'Why do you think I'm on the radio?' Kate Thornton, 42, blames ageism for pushing her out of high-profile TV roles as she launches cashback website with celebrity friends
- Kate Thornton presented The X Factor, Loose Women and This Morning
- Launched TBSeen with Myleene Klass, Tamzin Outhwaite and Heidi Range
- Targeted at women aged 25 to 44, it offers discounts on their shopping
Kate Thornton has hit back at ageism in the television industry as she launches a new cashback website alongside her celebrity friends.
The 42-year-old, who has held a variety of high-profile roles during her career including stints on The X Factor, Loose Women and This Morning, believes she has been slowly booted off our screens to make way for younger talent.
Cheltenham-born Kate, who is mother to Ben, seven, was unceremoniously dropped by Simon Cowell in 2007 to make way for Dermot O'Leary and dropped from the lunchtime talk show panel four years ago.
Kate Thornton has hit back at ageism in the TV industry as she launches a cashback website alongside her friends, from top left, Shaznay Lewis, Myleene Klass, Melanie Blatt, Tamzin Outhwaite, Amanda Byram, Heidi Range, Nicole Appleton, Denise Van Outen, Natalie Appleton, Julie Graham and Lisa Faulkner
Kate Thornton and Myleene Klass burst into fits of giggles in an intimate snap captured by Helena Christensen
When asked by The Daily Telegraph if ageism is the issue, Kate joked: ‘Why else do you think I spend such a lot of time on radio now? Yes.’
While she's still doing a number of gigs for the likes of BBC Radio 2 and Magic FM, Kate main focus is now on tbseen.com, a new cashback site targeted at women aged 25 to 44.
The portal, which goes lives today, offers cashback deals on 500 brands covering everything from utility bills, to upmarket fashion labels, some of which have until now avoided such sites because of the ‘discount’ connotations.
The likes of Boden, The White Company, Debenhams, Miss Selfridge and Office have already signed up, amongst a host of other names.
Tamzin Outhwaite, Kate Thornton and Lisa Faulkner celebrate the launch of their new cashback website
Kate Thornton, pictured third from left, has hired Natalie Appleton, Shaznay Lewis, Denise Van Outen, Myleene Klass and Tamzin Outhwaite as her celebrity ambassadors
Heidi Range, Melanie Blatt, Nicole Appleton and Myleene Klass all pose in black outfits for the arty shoot
To celebrate the launch and show the bond between the women (Kate calls them 'my muscles' because they keep her 'strong') they have posed for a shoot with Danish supermodel and photographer Helena Christensen
Essentially, it's a site where you get paid to shop. The user goes onto TBSeen, clicks through to the brand they want and in return for a purchase they will be refunded - typically between five and 15 per cent of the price.
This is reimbursed to the card paid with after the 30-day statutory returns period.
Kate reckons the average family could save between £750 and £800 a year.
'Cashback is a brilliantly smart way to shop. You get money back on the stuff you’re already buying, and we really wanted to bring it to life for women who, like us, put most of their spend online,' Kate told FEMAIL.
'With the brands we have on board you can earn money back and save as you go with some really smart deals on everything from food and groceries to fashion and beauty and health and fitness, all the way down to your utility bills.'
Kate was introduced to the idea a couple of years ago by Edd Royal, the brother of a friend, who wanted to do a more upmarket version of cashback websites.
They make money by directing 80 per cent of the ‘rent’ retailers pay to be featured on the site back to the shopper, while keeping 20 per cent for themselves.
Myleene Klass shares her make-up tips on Kate Thornton's new website revealing she likes to 'glow like J-Lo'
The woman candidly talk about their friendships and personal relationships in a video on the website
Kate was introduced to the idea a couple of years ago by Edd Royal, the brother of a friend, who wanted to do a more upmarket version of cashback websites
Unlike the likes of QuidCo and TopCashBack which feature reams of deals, TBSeen looks more like an online lifestyle magazine.
This is helped by content created by the celebrity ambassadors - and Kate's closest confidants - Myleene Klass, Tamzin Outhwaite, Denise Van Outen, Lisa Faulkner, Amanda Byram, Heidi Range, Nicole Appleton, Melanie Blatt, Natalie Appleton, Shaznay Lewis and Julie Graham.
Alongside the deals is an array of features from them. Myleene shares her make-up tips ('I like to glow like J-Lo'), Lisa reveals how she morphed from an actress to a chef ('I was desperate to cook') and Amanda has filmed an abs workout.
To celebrate the launch and show the bond between the women (Kate calls them 'my muscles' because they keep her 'strong') they have posed for a shoot with Danish supermodel and photographer Helena Christensen.
The dozen women laugh merrily in one group shot while Kate appears to throw her head back in fits of giggles. In another, she shares a joke with pal Myleene and an intimate snap sees her hug Tamzin and Lisa.
After the career setbacks, Kate says her new venture is about pushing herself professionally, while finding more time for her young son.
She told The Daily Telegraph: ‘When he was little it was easy. But they need you more as they get older, not less. Why does nobody tell you that?’
Unlike the likes of QuidCo and TopCashBack which feature reams of deals, TBSeen looks more like an online lifestyle magazine
Julie Graham and Denise Van Outen take part in a discussion which features on the TBSeen site
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-3383533/Kate-Thornton-blames-ageism-pushing-TV-roles-launches-cashback-website.html#ixzz3wHSuay28
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