Kate Thornton felt "humiliated" after Simon Cowell suddenly sacked her from 'The X Factor'.

Kate Thornton

Kate Thornton

The 47-year-old television presenter - who fronted the ITV singing competition in 2004 to 2006 - was shocked to find her contract had not been renewed by the 60-year-old music mogul, as Kate claims she was told she would be kept on.

Speaking on the 'In The Pink' podcast, she said: "They didn't renew my contract having said that they would - and by they, I mean Simon.

"It was on 'News at Ten'. It was embarrassing, it was humiliating and it kind of burnt for a bit."

Following the news, she was approached by people on the streets to talk to her about her career, adding to her humiliation.

She explained: "People were lovely but it was all anyone ever talked to me about.

"I'd go to Sainsbury's and people would ask me if I was OK. After a while it's so diminishing."

Kate presented the show for the first three series before being replaced by Dermot O'Leary.

After being axed, she developed a thick skin despite being "burnt" by a close friend.

She said: "It hurt more that someone I considered to be a friend hadn't been up front with me.

"It's tough and you develop the skin of a bloody rhino and I'm only grateful it happened in a time pre-social media otherwise I'm sure it would have hurt a lot more now. That would've really hurt."

Tagged in