Kate Thornton - Biography
Born: February 7, 1973
Famous for: Providing a shoulder to cry on for would-be popstars
Although she counts rocker Liam Gallagher and his partner Nicole Appleton among her friends, Kate Thornton insists she's not a celebrity. Cheltenham-born Kate started out aged 19 as a showbiz columnist on Smash Hits and the Daily Mirror before making the jump to TV, where she presented Top Of The Pops. But it is her role as an X Factor judge that has made her a household name. The bubbly blonde has also provided the voice of the red-carpet reporter in the UK version of Shrek 2 - a part that went to Joan Rivers in America.