Iconic noughties star makes television comeback and breaks their silence after hiatus from the small screen

She's been away from prime time television for years, but on Friday night a popular naughty presenter made a triumphant return and stepped back into the spotlight.

Kate Thornton sent her fans into a frenzy when she posted exciting news about her upcoming television appearance.

The former X Factor presenter will appear in The Hit List Christmas special, hosted by Rochelle and Marvin Humes.

Taking to Instagram, the Greatest Hits radio host shared the revelation: 'Tonight at 6pm I'll be showing my fiercely competitive side alongside @greggawallace on @bbchitlist.

“Maybe I'll just leave the country on Boxing Day – maybe to start a new life with a fresh identity, depending on how they adjusted my antics.”

The presenter who gave up TV presenting for a number of years revealed that she would be back on people's screens on Friday evening

Alongside the caption, Kate, 50, posted a photo on the set of the BBC One show, alongside Masterchef's Gregg Wallace.

Fans rushed to the comments section after the episode aired to share their joy at seeing the blonde bombshell back on their screens.

One user wrote: 'Well done Kate & Gregg, you were great!!'

Another wrote: 'Just watched Hitlist, you were both so good.'

While a third said: 'I bet you destroyed it with your pop knowledge!'

Presented by I'm A Celeb contestant Marvin and his This Morning host wife Rochelle, The Hit List challenges three couples (made up of friends, family or celebrities) to identify a set of songs or artists.

With time ticking against them, they must censor their reaction as soon as the music plays for a chance to win the cash prize.

Kate is best known for presenting the early series of The X Factor, before getting the ax in 2007 and being replaced by Dermot O'Leary.

The former X Factor presenter appeared on The Hit List Christmas special and posted a photo alongside Masterchef's Gregg Wallace, who she starred with

The mum-of-one who has had stints on This Morning and Loose Women, now presents on Hits Radio (pictured 2021)

Kate Thornton has been very open in the past about how a TV boss shamed her by saying he wanted to send her to a boot camp to lose weight (pictured in February 2022)

Since the reality singing show, the mum-of-one has made brief appearances as a guest presenter on This Morning.

She presented a whopping 233 episodes of ITV's Loose Women from 2009 to 2011, but was reportedly axed from the show when ratings fell.

During her time on Loose Women, Kate told how a TV boss shamed her by saying the show wanted to send her to a bootcamp to lose weight – but she told him where to go.

The presenter, who struggled with eating disorders as a teenager, was regularly knocked to the ground by bullies because she was 'chubby' – as far as the police were involved after death threats.

During Laura Whitmore's Castaway podcast in 2020, Kate opened up about going through such a horrible experience so young.

She said: 'When I was a teenager I had quite a hard time in my teenage years with bullying at school and weight issues, and those two things combined.

'Many years later I made a documentary to finally understand that these two things played a huge role in developing eating disorders.

'And the way I got out of that as a teenager was through a brilliant GP who did talk therapy with me at a time when no one had therapy – you're talking about the 80s.'

Kate developed anorexia as a teenager and subsequently underwent psychodynamic therapy to overcome the disorder.

For help and support with eating disorders, contact SEED on (01482) 718130 or visit www.seedeatingdisorders.org.uk

As a teenager, the TV presenter struggled with the eating disorders anorexia and bulimia and was regularly knocked to the ground by bullies because she was 'chubby'