Latest news with #Woodburn
Boston Globe
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
Kim Woodburn, British TV's no-nonsense ‘Queen of Clean,' dies at 83
Advertisement She was 60 years old at the time, and she nailed the audition, which involved scrutinizing a young woman's grimy flat in West London. Get Starting Point A guide through the most important stories of the morning, delivered Monday through Friday. Enter Email Sign Up 'Well, this is a flaming comic opera, isn't it,' Ms. Woodburn declared in the woman's terrifyingly filthy kitchen, as she recalled in her 2006 memoir, 'Unbeaten: The Story of My Brutal Childhood.' 'You look so clean yourself, and yet you live like this. Talk about fur coat, no knickers!' Her salty slang was one of the great pleasures of the show, which a Lifetime network executive once described as 'Queer Eye' meets 'Absolutely Fabulous' meets 'The Weakest Link.' The network imported the series to the United States for a few seasons. Ms. Woodburn, usually clad in a crisp white uniform and rubber gloves trimmed with pink feathers -- one reviewer described her as a cross between Mother Teresa and the British madam Miss Whiplash -- would shame and bully hapless homemakers week after week: 'Don't be a mucky puppy underfoot!' 'Scrub, dear, don't tickle!' 'What in the name of normal is all this?' Advertisement MacKenzie, wearing a white lab coat, played scientist, taking samples from sticky counters, from which she always seemed to discover evidence of E. coli, bubonic plague or toxic mold spores. Maggots were a recurring theme. Oprah Winfrey devoted an episode of her show to the pair, and they wrote a housekeeping manual -- a bestseller in Britain. Their show ran from 2003 to 2009 (the American version ran from 2004 to 2006) and spawned 'Too Posh to Wash,' a spinoff about personal hygiene. One of its six episodes featured a woman who never laundered her bra. The co-stars were an irresistible team, though Ms. Woodburn -- 'camp as Christmas,' as The Telegraph described her -- was the standout. After the series ended, she appeared on 'I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here' (in which celebrities are 'trapped' in a 'jungle'; Ms. Woodburn came in second) and 'Celebrity Come Dine With Me' (celebrities cook each other meals; Ms. Woodburn got squiffy, or pretended to be). Most notoriously, she was in the cast of 'Celebrity Big Brother,' in which demi-celebrities are confined together in a house and viewers vote on who gets the heave-ho. Ms. Woodburn would regularly spar with her housemates. 'Go away, you adulterer,' she blasted one, Jamie O'Hara, a British footballer, whom she described as a 'chicken-livered bugger.' When she berated Coleen Nolan, another housemate, calling her 'a two-faced maggot,' security bustled Ms. Woodburn off the show. Advertisement Was it pantomime? Nobody cared. Her behavior and reputation as the rudest woman on television was the stuff ratings are made from, and viewers tuned in by the millions to watch her many dust-ups, which canny television presenters invited her to perform on many more shows. MacKenzie stayed in television, too, but had a less explosive career. 'R.I.P. Kim,' Anita Singh of The Telegraph wrote this week. 'You were spectacularly rude. And, more often than not, you were right.' Patricia Mary McKenzie was born March 25, 1942, in Eastney, a district of Portsmouth on the South Coast, to Richard and Mary Patricia (Shaw) McKenzie. Her father served in the Royal Marines. Her upbringing was horrific. Her parents separated when she was young, and Pat, as she was known, was physically abused by her alcoholic mother and occasionally by her mother's boyfriend. She had stints in foster homes, group homes and a convent. Blind in one eye, Pat suffered in school, which she left at 15 to go to work, turning over her earnings to her mother. At 16, she left home and worked where she could -- in pubs, hotels and department stores, where she sold cosmetics. In her early 20s, she changed her name to Kim, after actress Kim Novak, and to separate herself from her mother, who also went by Pat. In her memoir, Ms. Woodburn wrote of delivering a stillborn baby when she was 23 and burying him in a park in Liverpool, where she was living at the time, digging his grave with a wooden spoon. When the book came out, she was questioned by the police for concealing the baby's birth, but she was never charged with a crime. Advertisement Her first marriage, to an abusive, adulterous police officer, ended in divorce in 1975. She married Pete Woodburn, another police officer, in 1979. Kim Woodburn worked as a beautician and then as a social worker caring for girls in juvenile detention centers. After she married Woodburn, the two became live-in housekeepers for wealthy families in the United States, Norway and the United Kingdom. Pete Woodburn survives her. It was while Kim Woodburn and her husband were working for a Saudi Arabian sheikh at his house in Kent -- a dream job, she said, with the family in residence only six weeks a year -- when she went on the audition that would lead to her TV fame. The 'Queen of Clean,' as the British tabloids called her, was often called on to provide household tips. One of her top five involved dinner parties. Her advice: 'Don't have one.' This article originally appeared in
Metro
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Aggie MacKenzie on 'awful' backstage scuffle with Kim Woodburn that started feud
The late Kim Woodburn's How Clean Is Your House? co-star Aggie MacKenzie has spoken about the reason behind the feud between the pair. Woodburn died earlier this week aged 83, following a short illness, and MacKenzie, 69, subsequently paid tribute to her former co-star. 'Kim was a tormented soul, but now she's finally at peace. We clashed often,' the statement provided to Metro read. 'Behind the fierce persona was deep pain and incredible strength. She survived because she had to. I hope she's resting now. She was an unforgettable woman.' The co-stars garnered national fame for their innovative Channel 4 cleaning show, How Clean Is Your House? which ran from 2003 to 2009 – but were beset by long-standing feud rumours since professionally parting ways over 16 years ago. After the grime-fighting reality show came to end, both hinted in various interviews that all was not well behind the scenes. MacKenzie has now spoken about the reason behind their feud, saying it dates back to an angry altercation with Woodburn that drove a professional wedge between the pair. The now-yoga teacher told The Mirror about a fallout behind the scenes of a Cinderella pantomime in Brighton back in January 2008 – in which the dirt-busting duo played the Ugly Stepsisters – that effectively ended their professional relationship. MacKenzie recalled Woodburn missing her cue in the theatre, so she tapped her on the shoulder to remind her and then they went on for their scene – yet when they came off stage MacKenzie said Woodburn was 'furious'. She told the publication: 'She pushed me. She actually pushed me so hard that I fell over. I lost it then. I really really lost it with her. 'The whole thing kind of blew up then. She went off to her dressing room and she was crying her eyes out. She was really upset and I was really upset – I was so furious.' The interval was extended until Woodburn finally agreed to go back on stage, MacKenzie said. 'It was awful,' she continued. 'After all of that I was just done. It felt like she had kind of crushed me. The disrespect was so much and I knew that I couldn't actually continue being civil anymore without an apology.' More Trending MacKenzie went on to say she had never received an apology from Woodburn, adding: 'I don't think that Kim knew how to apologise to anyone. 'She was a very complex person. Essentially, she probably had no confidence, she probably deep down hated herself, and so in order to survive she had to put on a big front to keep herself protected and to keep people away. 'If she apologised to me, that would be showing weakness in her eyes. So no, I never got an apology from her.' Metro has contacted Kim Woodburn's estate for comment. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. View More » MORE: Lou Christie, chart-topping singer and 1960s idol, dies aged 82 MORE: Wincey Willis, ITV's first female weather presenter, dies aged 76 MORE: The moment Kim Woodburn savagely branded Phillip Schofield 'phoney' on This Morning
India Today
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Reality TV star Kim Woodburn dies at 83, family and friends pay tributes
Kim Woodburn, who shot to fame with the reality TV show 'How Clean Is Your House', died at 83 on Tuesday. Her manager confirmed the news, stating that Woodburn died following a short illness. Woodburn also appeared on 'Celebrity Big Brother'.In a statement issued to BBC News, Woodburn's manager, Craig Johnson-Pass, said, "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." He also requested time and privacy at the time for her husband and close husband, Peter, later shared a recollection of her photos on her Instagram account with the caption, "My wonderful, beautiful, Kim passed away last night. God bless, my love (sic)." 'How Clean Is Your House' star Aggie Mackenzie remembered her former co-star. She told The Sun that Kim was a tormented soul, but she's finally at peace. Mackenzie also shared that the duo often had differences of opinion on many topics. "Behind the fierce persona was deep pain and incredible strength. She survived because she had to. I hope she's resting now. She was an unforgettable woman," she added. The duo gained popularity in 2003 on the Channel 4 show, where they would visit dirty homes and then tidy them Lee Smithurst recalled working with Woodburn once and said that she was everything you would want her to be. Lee was the show-runner for Eurovision 2023 in duo Jedward paid tribute to the reality TV star and said, "You had our back when we got bullied on CBB, and we will never forget that. There will never be another Kim Woodburn." Jedward and Woodburn appeared together in 'Celebrity Big Brother'.Kim Woodburn co-hosted 'How Clean Is Your House' from 2003 to 2009. The show's success led to its Canadian spin-off, 'Kim Awakenings.' After that, Kim appeared on a series of reality TV shows like 'Celebrity Big Brother' and 'Get Me Out Of Here'. She emerged as runner-up in the latter. She also featured in panel and cookery shows like 'Big Brother's Bit on the Side', 'Celebrity Come Dine with Me', and 'Loose Women'.
7NEWS
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- 7NEWS
Reality TV star Kim Woodburn dead at 83, following a short battle with illness
British reality TV star Kim Woodburn has died, aged 83. Woodburn, who rose to fame on the hit series How Clean Is Your House? in the 2000s, where she gained a legion of fans as a flamboyant, no-nonsense cleaning expert alongside Aggie MacKenzie. The pair would visit dirty homes, offering housekeeping tips and tricks, to homeowners and renters struggling with finding a routine to keep their houses clean. Woodburn went on to achieve a second round of fame by starring on the UK version of I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here in 2009, and Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. 'It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness,' a representative for Woodburn wrote. '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.' Following the hit TV shows, Woodburn remained in the public eye with regular appearances on chat shows like ITV's Loose Women and This Morning. News of Woodburn's death caused an outpouring of grief online. 'I looked after her on Big Brother's big mouth show back in the day! She was an absolute scream!!!! Will be missed,' one fan wrote. 'RIP Kim. You rocked the reality TV world and made us laugh so much throughout the years. Thank you for the laughs,' another wrote. 'Sending you so much love. She was one in a trillion. She was an intrinsic level of outsider, that's why she bonded so completely with the queer community. 'A fabulous woman, getting to perform for her will always be the highlight of my career. Huge hugs.'
Indianapolis Star
17-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indianapolis Star
English TV personality Kim Woodburn dies at 83 after 'short illness'
Kim Woodburn, the English professional cleaner turned television personality known for starring in "How Clean Is Your House?," has died, her manager said in a statement. She was 83. "It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness," Woodburn's manager, Craig Johnson-Pass, said in a statement to USA TODAY on June 17. The statement added, "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." The statement also asked for "time and privacy" for Woodburn's husband and close friends and said they will not be releasing any further details. Kim Woodburn was an English television personality known for starring on the reality show "How Clean Is Your House?" The show, which ran from 2003 to 2009 on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom, followed Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie as they cleaned dirty houses. Before appearing on the show, Woodburn worked as a house cleaner in the U.K. and U.S., according to BBC. Born Patricia Mary McKenzie on March 25, 1942, Woodburn had an abusive childhood and left home at the age of 15, she wrote in her 2006 book "Unbeaten." Her role on "How Clean Is Your House?" earned Woodburn the nickname The Queen of Clean, according to BBC. After the show was canceled, she went on to appear on several other reality shows, including "Celebrity Big Brother" in 2017. On her Instagram following her death, Woodburn's husband shared a video slideshow of photos of her. "My wonderful, beautiful, Kim passed away last night. God bless, my love, xx xx," Peter Woodburn wrote. Fans took to the comments to react to the news; one user called her "a national treasure." "RIP Kim. You rocked the reality TV world and made us laugh so much throughout the years. Thank you for the laughs," one person wrote. Another said, "Kim gave us all so much laughter and rare honesty what a gem."
