Kate Thornton (born February 7, 1973 in Cheltenham) is a British journalist and television presenter. She started her career at the Sunday Mirror in 1992 as an editorial assistant. In 1995, she became the youngest ever editor of Smash Hits at age 22, though she left after only a year.

In 2000 Thornton admited to battling with both anorexia and bulimia during her teen years in an effort to shed her childhood nickname of "Glutton".

Later on, she worked as a TV presenter, beginning with a string of unremarkable presenting roles, such as the Channel 4 cookery/dating show Dishes and the BBC series Holiday - You Call the Shots. She also sometimes presented Top of the Pops. Then in 2001 and again in 2003 she hosted the ITV2 Pop Idol backstage program, Pop Idol Extra. In 2004 and 2005 she hosted The X Factor, and in 2005 the less successful Celebrity Wrestling, all for ITV.

She also provided the voice for the entertainment correspondent (originally voiced by Joan Rivers) in the UK version of the film Shrek 2.

In 2006, Thornton hosted a segment on ITV's coverage of The Prince's Trust 30th Birthday LIVE, along side Patrick Kielty. She also hosted The X Factor: Battle of the Stars during May and June of the same year.