‘It burnt for a bit’: Kate Thornton says Simon Cowell ’embarrassed’ and ‘humiliated’ her after he fired her from The X Factor without any warning
Kate Thornton has said that Simon Cowell ’embarrassed’ and ‘humiliated’ her after he fired her from The X Factor without any warning.
The presenter, 47, had hosted the ITV singing series from 2004 to 2006 and was replaced by Dermot O’Leary in 2007.
Kate has now spoken about the ‘humiliating’ experience and claimed that she thought Simon was a ‘friend’.
‘Embarrassed’: Kate Thornton has said that Simon Cowell ’embarrassed’ and ‘humiliated’ her after he fired her from The X Factor without any warning (pictured in October)
The television personality explained that the music mogul had told her he would renew her contract and then shockingly axed her.
Speaking on the In The Pink podcast, Kate said: ‘They didn’t renew my contract having said that they would — and by they, I mean Simon.
‘It was on the News at Ten. It was embarrassing, it was humiliating and it kind of burnt for a bit. 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 b****y 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.’
Axed: The presenter, 47, had hosted the ITV singing series from 2004 to 2006 and was replaced by Dermot O’Leary in 2007 (pictured in 2004)
‘Friend’: Kate has now spoken about the ‘humiliating’ experience and claimed that she thought Simon was a ‘friend’ (pictured in 2004)
Kate added that Simon would be more ‘mindful’ and ‘kind’ about the situation now, especially after Love Island host Caroline Flack’s tragic suicide.
She continued: ‘It was a different time then and I think we’re far more mindful and kind in the wake of… it was tragic what happened with Caroline, utterly tragic and it’s not just her.
‘In the first few months I felt burnt and humiliated. 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 okay. After a while it’s so diminishing.’
Kate hosted the ITV singing series from 2004 to 2006 and was replaced by Dermot O’Leary in 2007.
Shock: The television personality explained that the music mogul had told her he would renew her contract and then shockingly axed her (pictured in 2004)
‘Hurt’: It was embarrassing, it was humiliating and it kind of burnt for a bit. It hurt more that someone I considered to be a friend hadn’t been up front with me,’ she told In The Pink podcast (pictured with Steve Brookstein, centre, in 2004)
She went on to anchor Loose Women and has had guest presenting roles on This Morning, Lorraine and The One Show. She has also hosted several radio shows.
Kate lives in London with her son Ben, 12, who she shares with ex Darren Emerson.
The star has previously spoke about Simon’s decision to axe her from The X Factor and in 2009 she vowed to never speak to him again.
Kate told Closer magazine: ‘I’ll never talk to Simon again. He fired me to create headlines without even telling me beforehand, when we had been good friends.’
‘Tough’: ‘It’s tough and you develop the skin of a b****y rhino and I’m only grateful it happened in a time pre-social media,’ she added (pictured in 2004)
Angry: The star has previously spoke about Simon’s decision to axe her from The X Factor and in 2009 she vowed to never speak to him again (pictured with Louis Walsh, right, in 2004)
She added: ‘Sharon and Louis Walsh really supported me, but at the end of the day it was a game of ‘Simon Says’ and he wanted me out.
‘I wouldn’t watch the show now because it would be like seeing your ex-boyfriend with his new girlfriend. You don’t have feelings for them anymore, but you don’t want to see it.’
Kate also added that she was happy being mother and doesn’t miss drinking Champagne at celebrity parties.
Family: Kate lives in London with her son Ben, 12, who she shares with ex Darren Emerson, she has previously said that she favours motherhood over the celebrity world (pictured in 2019)