TV personality Kim Woodburn dies aged 83 after short illness

TV star Kim Woodburn, who rose to fame presenting How Clean Is Your House?, has died at the age of 83 following a short illness, her manager said.

Woodburn also appeared in Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 and was among the line-up for E4’s Celebrity Cooking School in 2022.

A statement said: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness.

“Kim was an incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person.

“Her husband, Peter, is heartbroken at the loss of his soulmate.

“We are so proud of the amazing things Kim achieved in her life and career.

“We kindly ask that Kim’s husband and close friends are given the time and privacy they need to grieve.

“We will not be releasing any further details.”

In Channel 4 show How Clean Is Your House?, along with her sidekick Aggie MacKenzie, Woodburn would visit dirty homes and proceed to clean them, sharing tips as they went.

The highly camp show, with its dramatic music and Woodburn’s scolding of the offending homeowners, proved a huge hit, turning the pair into overnight stars.

The show, which ran from 2003 to 2009, led to book deals and other endorsements, with Woodburn appearing on various reality shows.

She finished in third place on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017, when Loose Women star Coleen Nolan won and Irish pop twins Jedward were second.

The pair, whose real names are John and Edward Grimes, said in a tribute to Woodburn: “Rest in peace Kim Woodburn, you’re forever our Celebrity Big Brother friend.

“We grew up watching you and to share those memories together, you will be truly missed for the TV gold you created for all generations.

“You had our back when we got bullied in CBB and we will never forget that. There will never be another Kim Woodburn.”

In an Instagram post, the duo posted a picture of them hugging Woodburn on the show.

The cleaning guru was regularly challenged over her angry outbursts and controversial attitude during her time in the Big Brother house.

Nolan and Woodburn fell out during the show, and Woodburn appeared on Loose Women in 2018 in an attempt to settle their feud but things quickly turned nasty between them.

Woodburn broke down as she discussed her traumatic childhood, before walking off the set and branding Nolan “lying trash”.

The clash sparked more than 3,000 complaints to regulator Ofcom, with the majority about how the Loose Women panel treated Woodburn.

During 2009’s I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! she was among the final three left in the jungle, with TV chef Gino D’Acampo crowned the winner.

She had spats with several campmates, retired boxer Joe Bugner in particular, although the pair later bonded.

But she also took on some stomach-churning tasks in the jungle, chomping down on a kangaroo’s testicle during the tuck shop challenge while campmate Katie Price could only look on.

She also managed to down a witchetty grub smoothie in a cocktails trial, after vomiting it back up on the first attempt.

Her autobiography titled Unbeaten: The Story Of My Brutal Childhood was published in 2006.

She described a miserable childhood spent living between her parents, a succession of children’s homes and a convent, before making an escape just before her 16th birthday.

But it also described happier times as an adult, including her “wonderfully happy marriage” and becoming Britain’s “queen of clean”.

Published: 17/06/2025 by Radio NewsHubClick here to read this story in full at Radio News Hub