She went on to present various television shows, including Top of the Pops (2004–2020), Love Island (2006), The Xtra Factor (2007), and Interior Design Masters (2019).
In 2007, Cotton became the first regular female presenter of the Radio 1 Chart Show, which she co-presented with Reggie Yates for two years.
She left in 2000, to concentrate on her other projects with CITV, including Draw Your Own Toons and Mouse, aimed at encouraging children to use computers.
[citation needed] Cotton joined CBBC in 2001 to present children's science programme Eureka TV.
She has also made appearances in the CBBC show Only in America, alongside her good friend and fellow presenter Reggie Yates.
Cotton took a short break from the programme in 2013 whilst on maternity leave, and Kelly Brook stood in for her during the ninth series.
She has hosted parts of the Red Nose Day telethon for Comic Relief (2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011) presenting several strands alongside Jonathan Ross and Lenny Henry.
During the event, British pop star and former Take That member Robbie Williams flirted with her in front of the cameras, causing much speculation in the media at the time, but which was later repudiated by the pair.
Following more than 4,000 complaints made about the BBC's coverage of the Diamond Jubilee in 2012 and in particular criticism of Cotton's role, she responded on Twitter by stating, "Grown men who slag me off in articles/online are huge bullies.
[citation needed] She also presented the Friday night live eviction programme that year for the Channel 5 reality television series Make Me a Supermodel.
[citation needed] On 20 May 2006, she read the United Kingdom's votes at the Eurovision Song Contest 2006, held in Athens, Greece.
On the night, after the final "sing-off" between the two remaining acts, Wogan and Cotton simultaneously announced different winners.
[citation needed] Cotton also presented the United Kingdom's votes at the show itself, held in Helsinki, Finland, on 12 May 2007.
[citation needed] In September 2005, she joined BBC Radio 1 to present the Friday early morning slot with Reggie Yates,[19] with whom she had previously worked on CBBC, Only in America and Top of the Pops.
Since 14 October 2007, Cotton and Yates presented BBC Radio 1's Chart Show, taking over from JK & Joel, who had left the station.
On 16 July 2009, it was announced that Cotton would become the new presenter of BBC Radio 1's weekday mid-morning show, taking over from Jo Whiley (who moved to weekends).
She publicised the range across her various social media accounts, posting pictures of herself and her daughter wearing lines from the collection.
[28] Cotton said on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross that she has eleven tattoos over her body, the most notable of which is a fern leaf, covering her right hip up to her rib cage.
[34] Cotton and Sarah Cawood acted as two of the bridesmaids at Willoughby's wedding to Dan Baldwin on 4 August 2007.
[citation needed] In 2009, she climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, alongside Ben Shephard, Gary Barlow, Alesha Dixon, Ronan Keating, Denise Van Outen and Chris Moyles, and Girls Aloud members Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh.
Cotton also recorded her voice for the BT Speaking Clock to raise funds for Comic Relief.