Kate Thornton was born on the 7 February 1973 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. In 1992, Kate began her career as an editorial assistant for the tabloid, The Sunday Mirror. In 1995, Kate took the reign of editor of Smash Hits magazine being its youngest ever editor at age 22 before leaving within a year of joining.

Television work followed with a number of short term appearances on multiple shows. She was co-host on 'Don't Try This At Home' a stunt riddled show, BBC's 'Holiday - You Call The Shots' and presenter of 'Dishes', a Channel 4 cooking and dating combination. Occasional appearances came in the form of presentations of BBC's 'Top Of The Pops'.

Kate entered the reality TV scene in 2001 when she became involved in 'Pop Idol', a talent show seeking new young musical talent. She presented the spin-off show, 'Pop Idol: Backstage' on ITV2 when she gathered exclusive content and interviews of participants before and after the main shows. In 2003, Kate returned to host the Pop Idol spin-off again going under the different name: 'Pop Idol Extra'.

Since 2004, Kate Thornton got her major part in the latest hit music talent contest, 'The X Factor' fronting the show on ITV1. On hand to interview auditionees throughout all three audition stages of the competition and presenting the main live shows on ITV1, Kate is noe just as much a part of the image of 'The X Factor' as are the judges: Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh.

Ben Peter Sherrington Shephard was born on the 11 December 1974 in Essex. He went to school in Chigwell, Essex and went onto Birmingham University where he earned a 2:1 BA honours degree in Dance, Drama and Theatre Arts. His successes academically extend to sports like rugby and football.

Ben lives with his wife Annie in London with their son, Samuel, who is just over a year old born in May 2005.
Ben's career began presenting on MTV. He went on to take up presentations on 'The Bigger Breakfast' and T4. In 2000, Ben moved over to ITV and took up presentations on the breakfast show, GMTV. Together with Jenni Falconer, Ben continues to front GMTV's entertainment and celebrity gossip spin-off, 'Entertainment Today'.

Since 2004, Ben Shephard has been actively involved in hosting the spin-off show for 'The X Factor' titled 'The Xtra Factor'. The show which sees the show's stars including auditionees, judges: Simon Cowell, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh, presenter Kate Thornton and even Ben featuring in exclusive and light-hearted interviews and features has been a very big success alongside the main shows.

Ben has also been involved in another music reality TV show, 'Soapstar Superstar', a talent contest in which stars from major UK soap dramas compete head-to-head to sing their way to victory. The show televised in early 2006 and also hosted by presenter, Fern Britton saw Coronation Street actor, Richard Fleeshman take the title.

Ben is also involved in hosting his own radio show on Saturday mornings on London's Magic 105.4FM.