TV Legend Kim Woodburn Dies at 83 – Tributes Pour In for ‘How Clean Is Your House’ Star

Kim Woodburn, one of Britain’s most unforgettable television personalities, has died at the age of 83. Her manager confirmed that she passed away peacefully after a short illness. Her husband Peter, who stood by her side for decades, is said to be heartbroken.

Kim wasn’t just a cleaning expert. She was a full-force personality who became a national icon. Whether you loved her or clashed with her opinions, you couldn’t ignore her.

From dust to daytime fame

Many first met Kim Woodburn on How Clean Is Your House in the early 2000s. Teamed up with Aggie MacKenzie, the show saw the duo entering cluttered, dirty homes and transforming them. But it wasn’t just about cleaning. Kim brought charm, sass, and genuine care into every episode. Viewers loved her no-nonsense attitude and the tips that made them want to grab a mop.

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The show ran from 2003 to 2009 and made her a household name. She had been a real-life cleaner before TV, and she never let people forget that her advice came from years of hands-on work.

Reality TV’s most fearless contestant

Kim didn’t stop at cleaning shows. She jumped into the chaos of reality television, and boy, did she make an impact. In 2009, she joined I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and made it all the way to runner-up behind Gino D’Acampo.

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But it was Celebrity Big Brother in 2017 that cemented her place in the reality TV hall of fame. She was explosive, emotional, brutally honest, and always stood her ground. Her time in the house included heated moments and several clashes, but it also led to some of the most viral quotes and memes in British reality show history.

Drama on Loose Women and an unforgettable walkout

One of her most talked-about moments came in 2018 on Loose Women. Brought face-to-face with Coleen Nolan, whom she had clashed with in CBB, things escalated quickly. Kim walked off the set in tears after a painful on-air confrontation. Ofcom received over 3,000 complaints after the episode aired.

That wasn’t the first or last time she spoke her truth in uncomfortable situations. Many felt the show failed to support her properly, while others saw her as too outspoken. But Kim never apologized for being herself.

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A childhood marked by cruelty

Behind the bold voice and sharp one-liners was a woman who had survived tremendous pain. Born in Hampshire, Kim had a very hard start in life. In her 2007 autobiography Beaten, she opened up about a childhood marked by violence, rejection, and emotional trauma. Sent to a boarding school run by cruel nuns, she remembered being beaten and neglected from as young as three years old.

She left home at 16, moved to Liverpool, and worked as a live-in cleaner. Those early experiences of independence shaped her work ethic and her no-nonsense outlook on life.

Loss, loneliness, and resilience

In her 20s, Kim became pregnant. Left alone and abandoned by her boyfriend, she gave birth to a baby boy at six months, who didn’t survive. She buried him in a Liverpool park by herself, a story she bravely shared years later.

It’s a heartbreaking part of her life that she never let define her, but she never forgot. She admitted in an interview, “Of course I do still think about him… it’s only natural.” That moment of openness revealed the deep layers behind the bold TV character the world thought they knew.

Tributes pour in

From fellow celebrities to longtime fans, tributes flooded in after the announcement of her death. Singing duo Jedward, who appeared with her in Celebrity Big Brother, thanked her for standing by them during tough moments in the house. “Rest in Peace My Lovely,” they wrote. “You had our back when we got bullied in CBB and we will never forget that.”

TV producer Lee Smithurst remembered her fondly, sharing a sweet memory of her signing autographs for school kids. Radio presenter Pete Price said, “You loved or hated this larger than life character. I loved her.”

Her husband posted a heartfelt message on her Instagram: “My wonderful, beautiful Kim passed away last night. God bless, my love,” alongside old photos of her smiling through the years.

Kim Woodburn wasn’t just a TV personality. She was a survivor, a straight-talker, and a woman who made sure her voice—cleaning tips or not—was always heard.