British television personality Kim Woodburn, famed for her no-nonsense attitude and iconic cleaning advice, has died at the age of 83, her manager confirmed on Thursday. Best known for co-hosting How Clean Is Your House? alongside Aggie MacKenzie, Woodburn died following a short illness, leaving behind her heartbroken husband, Peter.
Her manager described her as “kind, caring, charismatic and strong,” noting the couple’s deep bond: “Peter is devastated by the loss of his soulmate.” In a heartfelt Instagram tribute, he wrote, “My wonderful, beautiful Kim passed away last night. God bless, my love,” accompanied by touching photos from her life.
Aggie MacKenzie, her long-time co-host, offered a complex but emotional tribute. “Kim was a tormented soul, but now she’s finally at peace,” she told The Sun. “Behind the fierce persona was deep pain and incredible strength. She survived because she had to.”
Rise to Fame on ‘How Clean Is Your House?’
Woodburn’s television career took off in 2003 when she was cast in How Clean Is Your House?, a Channel 4 hit that saw her and MacKenzie deep-cleaning Britain’s dirtiest homes. The duo’s chemistry, dramatic narration, and blunt commentary made the show a cult favourite until its run ended in 2009.
She later became a staple on daytime talk shows such as Loose Women and This Morning, frequently voicing her bold opinions.
Celebrity Big Brother and Controversial TV Moments
Kim Woodburn became a household name again in 2017 after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother, where her confrontational personality led to viral moments and intense media coverage. Her clashes with fellow housemates, especially Loose Women panelist Coleen Nolan, drew thousands of Ofcom complaints after an emotional fallout aired on national television in 2018.
Despite the controversy, many former co-stars spoke warmly of her. Singing duo Jedward wrote, “You had our back when we got bullied in CBB and we will never forget that.”
A Life Marked by Struggle and Resilience
Born in Hampshire, Woodburn left home at 16 and worked as a live-in cleaner in Liverpool before marrying her second husband, Peter, in 1979. She openly discussed her traumatic childhood, which she described in her autobiography Beaten, and the emotional pain of losing a child in her twenties.
She spoke of enduring cruelty at the hands of nuns at a boarding school from the age of three, and how she had to bury her stillborn son in a Liverpool park due to the stigma of the time.
Despite her difficult past, Kim Woodburn remained a defiant figure who captured the hearts of viewers with her resilience, humour, and unforgettable presence on screen.
Fans, celebrities, and former co-workers continue to pour in tributes across social media, remembering a woman who, as one producer put it, “was everything you would want her to be — larger than life, compassionate, and unforgettable.”
