Kim Woodburn
Encyclopedia
Kim Woodburn is an English
television presenter and expert cleaner who is best known for co-presenting the British
television
programme How Clean Is Your House?
and in 2007, starred in the Canadian series Kim's Rude Awakenings.
model in Liverpool in the late 1960s. In 1983, she made her first appearance on television on Pebble Mill at One
, demonstrating knitwear. This was her only television appearance for the next 20 years, while she worked as a house cleaner in the UK and US.
Kim also owned a fashion store in Childwall
, Liverpool
.
, while earning £1000 a month as a cleaner. She was hired as a presenter of new show How Clean is Your House?, which began in February 2003, and eventually became the highest paid Channel 4 female presenter. At the age of 61, Woodburn was catapulted into stardom as the show became an instant success. She has also filmed a version of the show in the US. In 2006 she wrote an autobiography, Unbeaten, which detailed her early life and was the first time she revealed the death of her baby. This revelation led to a police investigation, which she readily assisted with. In 2008, the sixth and final series of How Clean is Your House? was aired. She has also appeared in Panto
with TV co-star Aggie MacKenzie
.
In August 2009, Woodburn announced to Now Magazine that she would not be making any further series of How Clean is Your House?
and Channel 4 announced soon afterwards that the show would be cancelled.
In December 2009, Woodburn was placed runner-up on ITV's reality show, I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!. She finished runner-up to TV chef Gino D'Acampo
, and her success has led to a stand in role for This Morning
a day time TV show. In March 2010 she appeared in Celebrity Come Dine With Me
on Channel 4
alongside Claire Sweeney
, Darren Day
and Tom O'Connor
.
In 2011, Woodburn became a regular panellist on Big Brother 2011 spin-off show, Big Brother's Bit on the Side. In November 2011, she entered the Big Brother house to set a shopping task which she also judged, while berating the housemates for their lack of hygiene.
After fleeing from her home and moving from job to job, she became pregnant by her then boyfriend, who then left her. In February, 1966 she gave birth six months prematurely to a stillborn
boy. Terrified of the stigma of being an unmarried mother and alone, she buried the baby's body in a nearby park. After this, she changed her name to Kim in an attempt to forget her past.
Her first marriage to a policeman ended in divorce in the 1970s, after she became a victim of domestic violence.
She is currently married to Peter, also a former police officer and three years her junior. She has no children.
She owns two properties, one in Old Oxted, Surrey
, the other in Crowborough
East Sussex
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
television presenter and expert cleaner who is best known for co-presenting the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
programme How Clean Is Your House?
How Clean is Your House?
How Clean Is Your House? was a British entertainment/lifestyle television programme in which expert cleaners Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie visited extremely filthy homes and then cleaned them to perfection...
and in 2007, starred in the Canadian series Kim's Rude Awakenings.
Early career
Woodburn undertook many jobs in her adult life. She worked for a time as a social worker to teenage girls also as a member of staff in childrens homes in Liverpool, in retail, and as a LittlewoodsLittlewoods
Littlewoods is the name of a former retail and gambling company founded in Liverpool, Merseyside, England by John Moores in 1923.It started as a shopping catalogue company, processing orders by post in the early 1970s. In 1981, it expanded to a call centre, processing orders via telephone. At its...
model in Liverpool in the late 1960s. In 1983, she made her first appearance on television on Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One
Pebble Mill at One was a popular British lunchtime chat show broadcast live originally on BBC2 before transferring to BBC1. It was produced from the Pebble Mill facilities of BBC Birmingham, and uniquely was hosted from the centre's main reception area rather than a traditional studio...
, demonstrating knitwear. This was her only television appearance for the next 20 years, while she worked as a house cleaner in the UK and US.
Kim also owned a fashion store in Childwall
Childwall
Childwall is a suburb of Liverpool, Merseyside, England and a Liverpool City Council Ward. It is located to the south of the city, bordered by Gateacre, Wavertree, Belle Vale, Broadgreen, Bowring Park and Mossley Hill...
, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
.
Television career
In 2002, she auditioned for Channel 4Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
, while earning £1000 a month as a cleaner. She was hired as a presenter of new show How Clean is Your House?, which began in February 2003, and eventually became the highest paid Channel 4 female presenter. At the age of 61, Woodburn was catapulted into stardom as the show became an instant success. She has also filmed a version of the show in the US. In 2006 she wrote an autobiography, Unbeaten, which detailed her early life and was the first time she revealed the death of her baby. This revelation led to a police investigation, which she readily assisted with. In 2008, the sixth and final series of How Clean is Your House? was aired. She has also appeared in Panto
Panto
Panto may refer to:* Pantomime, a theatrical style* Pantoprazole, a proton pump inhibitor* Pantograph , an overhead current collector for a tram or electric train...
with TV co-star Aggie MacKenzie
Aggie MacKenzie
Agnes MacKenzie , is a Scottish television presenter. She is most prominently known for co-presenting the Channel 4 series How Clean Is Your House? with Kim Woodburn.-Biography:...
.
In August 2009, Woodburn announced to Now Magazine that she would not be making any further series of How Clean is Your House?
How Clean is Your House?
How Clean Is Your House? was a British entertainment/lifestyle television programme in which expert cleaners Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie visited extremely filthy homes and then cleaned them to perfection...
and Channel 4 announced soon afterwards that the show would be cancelled.
In December 2009, Woodburn was placed runner-up on ITV's reality show, I'm a Celebrity…Get Me out of Here!. She finished runner-up to TV chef Gino D'Acampo
Gino D'Acampo
Gennaro "Gino" D'Acampo is an Italian chef, television personality and winner of ITV's 2009 series of I'm a Celebrity… Get Me out of Here. D'Acampo lives in the United Kingdom.-Early life:...
, and her success has led to a stand in role for This Morning
This Morning (TV series)
This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
a day time TV show. In March 2010 she appeared in Celebrity Come Dine With Me
Come Dine With Me
Come Dine With Me is a popular Channel 4 television programme shown in the United Kingdom, produced by Granada Television and first broadcast in January 2005. The show has either four or five amateur chefs competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other contestants...
on Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
alongside Claire Sweeney
Claire Sweeney
Claire Jane Sweeney is an English actress, singer and television personality best known for playing the role of Lindsey Corkhill in the Channel 4 soap opera Brookside and her appearance on the first series of the Reality TV show Celebrity Big Brother.-Early Life:Sweeney was born in Walton, Liverpool...
, Darren Day
Darren Day
Darren Day , is an English actor, singer and television presenter, well known for his West End theatre starring roles.-Early life:His paternal grandfather was a support and warm-up act for George Formby...
and Tom O'Connor
Tom O'Connor
Tom O'Connor is a British actor and comedian. He is best known for presenting game shows such as Crosswits, The Zodiac Game, Name That Tune, I've Got A Secret and Gambit.- Early life :...
.
In 2011, Woodburn became a regular panellist on Big Brother 2011 spin-off show, Big Brother's Bit on the Side. In November 2011, she entered the Big Brother house to set a shopping task which she also judged, while berating the housemates for their lack of hygiene.
Personal life
Woodburn was constantly beaten by her mother throughout her childhood and neglected by her father, who later attempted to molest her as a teenager. Woodburn has one sister and one brother, and several half-sisters and half-brothers born to her mother and various men. Her mother died in 2000.After fleeing from her home and moving from job to job, she became pregnant by her then boyfriend, who then left her. In February, 1966 she gave birth six months prematurely to a stillborn
Stillbirth
A stillbirth occurs when a fetus has died in the uterus. The Australian definition specifies that fetal death is termed a stillbirth after 20 weeks gestation or the fetus weighs more than . Once the fetus has died the mother still has contractions and remains undelivered. The term is often used in...
boy. Terrified of the stigma of being an unmarried mother and alone, she buried the baby's body in a nearby park. After this, she changed her name to Kim in an attempt to forget her past.
Her first marriage to a policeman ended in divorce in the 1970s, after she became a victim of domestic violence.
She is currently married to Peter, also a former police officer and three years her junior. She has no children.
She owns two properties, one in Old Oxted, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, the other in Crowborough
Crowborough
The highest point in the town is 242 metres above sea level. This summit is the highest point of the High Weald and second highest point in East Sussex . Its relative height is 159 m, meaning Crowborough qualifies as one of England's Marilyns...
East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
.