English TV personality Kim Woodburn dies at 83 after ‘short illness’
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English TV personality Kim Woodburn dies at 83 after ‘short illness’
Kim Woodburn, 83, died on June 17 after a short illness, her manager said. She was known for starring on the reality show “How Clean Is Your House?” The show, which ran from 2003 to 2009, followed Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie as they cleaned dirty houses. Woodburn had an abusive childhood and left home at the age of 15, she wrote in her 2006 book “Unbeaten” She was nicknamed “The Queen of Clean” for her role on the show, according to BBC.
“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.
Who was Kim Woodburn?
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.
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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.
Fans react to Kim Woodburn’s death: ‘A national treasure’
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.”
Melina Khan is a national trending reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at melina.khan@usatoday.com.