Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie presented How Clean is Your House? from 2003 to 2009 on Channel 4, which saw the stars visit indescribably filthy homes and clean them
Aggie MacKenzie and tragic Kim Woodburn – who died on Monday – unwittingly formed a dynamic partnership on How Clean is Your House? because of their tension, it is claimed.
The duo presented the popular Channel 4 show between 2003 and 2009, and hosted a US version during this period. Following Kim’s passing aged 83 on Monday, an interview Aggie gave in 2019 has resurfaced as it features some fascinating insights into her relationship with the no-nonsense TV personality.
Aggie, 69, admitted she was “frightened” of Kim because her co-star had “no boundaries, no limitations”. Feelings were so strong Aggie, from Aviemore, Scottish Highlands, found it difficult to forge a friendship with Kim – yet she feels this helped their onscreen partnership blossom.
“It created this energy and so we knew how to be in front of the camera. But I used to dream a lot about her – bad dreams. If my phone rang and it was Kim, my stomach would turn over. I’d think: ‘What am I in for now?’ It would always be abuse,” Aggie said in the interview.
READ MORE: Kim Woodburn’s co-star Aggie breaks silence on death of ‘tormented soul’
Whoever it formed, the partnership worked and, for six years, How Clean is Your House? was one of Channel 4’s most popular programmes. Both women will always be remembered for the series, which gave Aggie the platform to launch her own range of affordable surface cleaners at Poundstretcher in 2020.
Reacting to Kim’s death yesterday, mum-of-two Aggie told the Mirror: “Kim was a tormented soul, but now she’s finally at peace. We clashed often. 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.”
Channel 4 said How Clean is Your House? was axed to make room for fresh programming but, around 18 months before the final episode aired, Aggie and Kim fell out. The pair were Ugly Sisters in Cinderella at the Theatre Royal, Brighton during pantomime season but, after Aggie missed her cue, it is understood Kim shoved her co-star backstage, so hard she almost fell over. Words were exchanged – and it is thought the duo did not speak to each other for the final two series of How Clean Is Your House?
Yet Kim explored new opportunities after the programme finished, including explosive appearances in I’m A Celebrity in 2009 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. She pulled no punches in these shows too, famously telling former glamour girl Katie Price: “You’re what I thought you’d be. You’re a publicity-seeker. You live and die for publicity. You know full well you’ve got ten to 12 million people watching every night and you know, madam, you’ll be all over the papers every day. Now stop it. Stop your nonsense.”
Yesterday, Kim’s management described the writer as an “incredibly kind, caring, charismatic and strong person”, adding that her husband Peter Woodburn was “heartbroken at the loss of his soulmate”.