At the 2010 general election, Righton was the Conservative candidate for the new St Austell and Newquay constituency but lost to the Liberal Democrats.
Also at this time, she conducted a series of interviews with heavyweight boxers Frank Bruno and Joe Bugner during the build up to their fight at White Hart Lane in London.
These interviews formed the basis of a Video Cassette release (later rereleased on DVD) called Frank Bruno v Joe Bugner: The Final Word.
In 1999, after 14 years away, Righton returned to the West Country after becoming a regional controller for ITV company Carlton under her former TV-am boss Clive Jones.
It was from her base in Cornwall in 2003, that Righton started her career as an author, with her first work, The Life Audit, a self-help plan and guide that has become a best-seller in America, Asia and Australia.
[5] Righton appeared on national television in the UK and on CBS's Early Show in the United States,[6] while the associated website to the book has members from 25 different countries.
Placed on the party's A-List of female and ethnic minority applicants, it was announced in 2008 that Righton would become the Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the newly created seat of St Austell and Newquay.