In February 1997, Thornton was given her first TV presenting job, on the ITV current affairs programme Straight Up.

Thornton is quoted as having been doubtful initially, but later having come to accept the possibility: "I never dared to assume for one minute that I was the link.

Thornton later anchored ITV's daytime series Loose Women, in rotation with Andrea McLean.

[6] Thornton was a regular stand-in presenter on This Morning and in 2010, she co-presented the first series of 71 Degrees North alongside Gethin Jones.

Thornton also presented Gravity Games for BBC Two, Women: The Naked Truth Honest for Channel 4 and Breasts Uncupped for Sky1.

According to the blurb on the official website: “Every episode goes behind the headlines to bring to viewers fresh, detailed insight into the biggest royal stories from the UK and around the world.” Thornton has presented a number of programmes for BBC Radio 2 since 2002.

Thornton launched cashback site TBSeen in January 2016,[10] along with TV presenters Myleene Klass, Amanda Byram and Denise Van Outen, celebrity chef Lisa Faulkner, actresses Tamzin Outhwaite, Julie Graham and singers Heidi Range and the band All Saints, Nicole Appleton, Natalie Appleton, Mel Blatt and Shaznay Lewis.

[12] There are currently over 300 episodes in the back catalogue featuring the likes of HRH Princess Eugenie, actress Hannah Waddingham, award winning singer Raye and a host of household names.

[17] In January 2012, Thornton said that after leaving Loose Women she had enrolled at college to study counselling because her television career had "hit the kerb".