Kate Thornton has become one of the best known presenters in the UK, having hosted the first few series of The X Factor, being the anchor for two years on Loose Women amongst a fleet of other TV gigs.
Now she’s taking to the airwaves as the host of the Boots Feel Good Forum on Real and Smooth Radio and we caught up with her to talk about the show, getting a hold of Jo Frost and turning 40.
So, what can you tell us about the Boots Feel Good Forum?
It’s a call in show where you can access some of the best experts in the country working today and we’re going to be talking about all aspects of health and beauty.
It’s your chance to get a hold of the best in the business. It’s a bit like being able to queue jump when you go to the doctors and you have to wait weeks and weeks and weeks.
Do you think it’s important for people to be able to quiz these experts instead of just being able to hear advice?
Absolutely! You can read articles by them or see them on the TV but you’ll hardly ever get a bit on one on one time with them and that’s what we’re offering. That direct access.
I even use the opportunity to grill them, as soon as we come off air, I’m asking them questions too. First week, I almost pinned ‘Supernanny’ Jo Frost up against a wall and was pleading for tips.
So, been able to pick up some useful titbits from your time so far on the show?
When you sit down with anybody that has an area of expertise, you’re always going to learn something, as long as you’re asking the right questions. For me, sitting down with someone like Jo Frost and getting reassurance that what you’re doing is right or them offering a new angle is great. I’ve learnt lots of all different things.
You’ve before struggled with depression, do you think it helps being able to talk to experts about that?
I did have someone to talk about it with and I was very lucky ones. I explored that in the show and that was why I only had to fight it for two years and not carry it all the way through my adult life because I had a fantastic GP who acted as a therapist and councillor and that really was the saving of me.
I feel like I had help a little bit ahead of its time really. I think it puts me on a good position to be on this show, I understand we’re all flawed and have insecurities and that we all have a little bit of body dysmorphia when we look in the mirror.
We always see the worst of ourselves and if we can help change that even a little bit, then that’s got to be a good thing.
Was that one of the defining factors that’s pushed you towards training as a therapist yourself?
I was treated without any kind of medication and there’s real value in a talking cure.
We’re far more open to therapy and self-help than we ever have been before in this country and for a long time there was a real negativity. We thought that if you were looking for help then you must have mental health issues.
There’s still a stigma around that, even though everyone’s got some issues and I think it’s really healthy to still, talk about them and try and find an answer without diving into the nearest pharmacist.
You’ve just turned 40, so are you prove yet again that it’s really not a big deal?
You know what, I feel disappointed. When people ask me about turning 40, I don’t have a whole lot to say really. I didn’t have any fear, it didn’t bother me at all, it was just a great excuse for a massive party that people feel more compelled to attend because it’s a benchmark birthday. I didn’t feel any different waking up 40 than I did going to bed at 39. I just don’t see what all the stress is about.
It depends where you are in life. With a lot of women, it’s a worry about what family you’ve had. I have my babies and I’m happy and content with life, so that may be why I embraced it and didn’t run for the hills.
You also did a little something for Comic Relief, what can you tell us about that?
We were doing a dare for Comic Relief, we were dared to jump on a train in central London and be ruled by Twitter for the entire journey which we gladly did. There were moments of deep embarrassment, but we embraced it and laughed a lot as it was all for a good cause.
You’ve just finished doing the Strictly Come Dancing live shows again, what’s that like?
It’s amazing, I love doing Strictly. This was my fifth year doing it and I love it. Every January I get to hop on a tour bus and live the life of a pop star. You’re touring the country, staying in lovely hotels, hanging around with a great gang of people and having a ball.
You’ve done a whole lot of presenting work, but was there one that pops out as the most fun for you?
When I presented travel shows I always used to look around and think this is the most fun you could ever have. Seeing the world and having someone else organise it all and take you to the best places just opens your eyes and broadens your horizons.
I’d love to travel more. There are places I still haven’t been and even with my time on the travel shows, I feel like I’ve barely scratched the surface.
So what’s next for you then after this run of radio shows?
I’m going to have a little holiday now as I haven’t stopped this year. After the radio show I’m going to take a little time of before it’s back to business when I’ve had my fill of days in the park and school runs.
I’m a single, working mum, but I try and make it so I only work part time.This year though it’s been much more full time, so this is a chance to redress the balance and I’ll be back of screens pretty soon.
My son is growing up so quickly and the beauty of this job is that you can work very hard and intensely for a short period of time and then you can take some serious time out and relax.
Every Sunday, until the 28th April, Kate will be presenting the Boots Feel Good Forum Radio show from 7-8pm on the Real Radio Network and 8-9pm on the Smooth Radio network.www.feelgoodforum.co.uk
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