Kate Thornton has opened up about the emotional impact of raising her son Ben, now 17, as a single parent. The former BBC Radio 2 presenter, 52, spoke with heartfelt honesty about the bittersweet transition as her son gains independence.
Kate shares Ben with her former partner Darren Emerson, with their relationship dating back to 2004 and an engagement in 2007. They split several years ago, a change Kate publicly acknowledged on ITV’s Loose Women in 2011.
Balancing career and motherhood has been a journey. After Ben’s arrival, Kate reduced her workload, stepping back from Loose Women, and later retrained as a therapist when her TV career slowed. Today, she hosts a show on Greatest Hits Radio and created the White Wine Question Time podcast.
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On this podcast, she reflected on the experience of parenting alone and the emotional toll it takes. Discussing family priorities with guest Helen Skelton, Kate related to Helen’s decision to pause her career to focus on her children.
Kate said, “There are many of us parenting on our own. It’s not easy and pretending it is doesn’t help anyone. We often pressure ourselves to do it all, but sometimes stepping back is necessary. At 52, I can say, eventually, you do have it all.”
She described the poignant moment when her son began driving himself to football matches. “Now when I drive past playing fields full of parents and kids, I literally swallow tears. It’s a grief—I miss it so much. But the work I want to do is still there.”
Kate’s radio career saw a new beginning in 2022 with Greatest Hits Radio, shifting from Sunday to weekday afternoons by 2024. Her podcast, launched in 2019, is known for its engaging mix of tough questions and lighthearted wine conversations with notable guests.
Helen Skelton, who left BBC Radio 5 Live in 2023 to focus on her three children, shared similar sentiments about stepping back. Describing 5 Live as a “dream job,” she admitted it was difficult to leave but necessary for her family.
Helen explained, “Right now, I need to be on the sidelines and that’s okay.” Their conversations underscore the realities many parents face in trying to balance demanding careers with family life.