Kim Woodburn, star of iconic 2000’s reality programme How Clean Is your House?, has died aged 83 following a short illness. Kim is well remembered for her role on the popular cleaning show, as well as appearances on Celebrity Big Brother and I’m a Celebrity – Get Me Out of Here.
However, fans may not be aware that she reportedly had a major rift with co-star Aggie MacKenzie while they worked on How Clean is Your House?, with the pair not sharing a word for over 10 years.
The fabled rift between How Clean Is Your House? presenters Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie apparently took such a toll that Aggie alleges it led her to need years of therapy.
Despite working together on the Channel 4 show from 2003 until 2009, as of 2019 the pair reportedly hadn’t had a proper conversation since their grand falling out back in 2008, with Aggie asserting there was zero small talk between them on the final two series.
Aggie accused Kim of bullying her, a claim staunchly refuted by the one-time Celebrity Big Brother contestant. Speaking to the Mirror in 2019, Kim remarked: “I have never said anything derogatory about Aggie and I am not going to start now. I am unclear where these false allegations have come from but I wish her all the luck in the world.”
Kim’s response came after Aggie made comments to the Daily Mail about the feud. She said: “We were never friends. Far from it. Kim was such a big, damaging part of my life. I feel she almost destroyed me. I know that sounds extreme but she was this massive powerful figure.”
She expressed her fear towards Kim, noting: “I was frightened of her. Everyone was. It’s like any bully – they push and push and push. There were no boundaries, no limitations. It was as if Kim felt more entitled to the job, status and money than me. She was the ‘main man’ and the show could not go on without her. I was ordinary and dispensable.”
Aggie recounted how following an intense dispute in January 2008, communication between her and Kim almost ceased completely. She recalls that they were co-starring as the Ugly Sisters in the pantomime Cinderella in Brighton when a row broke out.
Aggie alleges that they were waiting off-stage for their cue, but Kim didn’t move when it was time to go on. She says she nudged her on the shoulder, went out, then guided her off the stage once their scene had finished.
However, she claims that when they returned backstage, Kim shoved her “really, really hard” and she “went flying”. She stated: “I lost my rag. I said, ‘Don’t you ever f*****g push me again. How dare you?’ It was the first time I ever really went for her. I remember shouting at her, ‘You’re ugly on the outside and you’re ugly on the inside’.”
Nonetheless, Kim never confirmed Aggie’s version of events, and according to Aggie, told the cast that she was the one who pushed Kim. Aggie admits it took her years to “get Kim out of my head”.
Kim has been involved in several high-profile disputes over the years, including with her Celebrity Big Brother housemates in 2017. She got caught up in numerous heated arguments with Nicola McLean, Jamie O’Hara and Coleen Nolan, and was even escorted out of the house by security following a foul-mouthed rant.
She later clashed with Coleen again on Loose Women, leading to Ofcom complaints and Coleen taking a break from the daytime chat show.
However, in 2022, Kim broke her silence on the feud. Speaking on GB News, she said: “I very rarely discussed that and I’m going to tell you why. I think it’s because I never say anything. Of course we fell out. And since we fell out and Aggie’s written a few columns about it, which I would never do about Aggie, but I’ll tell you why I wouldn’t. For six years she was marvellous in that show with me.”
Kim also issued an apology to Aggie 15 years after their feud, and wished her well. She said: “Thank you very much Aggie, we made a few bob and it’s great to have a few bucks in your pocket. And I thank her as well. She had to be good as well to make it work. And so I say I’m sorry we fell out. I’m not prepared to discuss it like she does because I wish her all the luck in the world.”
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