EXCLUSIVE: Former Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! star Kim Woodburn insisted her reality television days were not over just months before her death
Kim Woodburn provided some of the most dramatic moments in British reality television, before her tragic death aged 83. Back in 2017, she seemingly didn’t go a day without arguing with one of her Celebrity Big Brother co-stars, in one of show’s most memorable series.
Kim particularly clashed with Nicola McLean, and had further rows with the likes of Jamie O’Hara and Coleen Nolan. At one point during a heated argument in the famous house’s bedroom, security were forced to intervene and drag her away from the drama.
After the series concluded, Kim accused her housemates of bullying, which they have all denied. Despite this, the reality star said she wouldn’t rule out a return if the show did an all-star series.
This however came with one condition – that her former housemates wouldn’t be living with her. In our interview with the star last year, we asked if she’d be up for the experience in the house again. She replied: “I wouldn’t go back with the cast I had in there”, before going on to brand them “rotten pigs”.
She added: “If any of them were in there that I knew, that were ganging up on me, I’m not going to give myself punishment. I like the money, but I’m not going to work with trash like that ever again.
“But I’d go back in if most of them are who I haven’t been in with. I wouldn’t want to sit in the same house as them, why would I?”
Kim admitted she had signed up to the likes of Celebrity Big Brother and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! for the money, and slammed those who claim they did it “for the experience”.
Reflecting on her stint in the house, she added: “I didn’t go in to win, I went in for the money. Thank you television, you paid me lots of money. I wouldn’t have gone on it if I didn’t get paid a large amount.
“I wouldn’t have gone in the jungle [either]. Who’s going to eat a flipping lamb’s testicle in the jungle if you’re not paid heaps of money?”.
Following her time on Celebrity Big Brother, Kim’s feud with the series winner Coleen continued during an episode of Loose Women. Producers claimed that they invited her onto the panel to bury the hatchet with Coleen, but this instantly backfired.
Just minutes into the interview, a row between them erupted which prompted Coleen’s co-stars and sister Linda to get involved.
As part of their exchange, the panellist said her biggest mistake was not telling Kim “how vile she was from day one”. Hitting back, the former How Clean Is Your House? star said she “was very upset” on the show and pretended she wasn’t.
She went on to accuse her co-stars of picking on her, adding: “This one [pointing to Coleen], ‘Cup of tea Kim, cup of tea?’ everyday and behind my back they were slagging me off.
“I don’t want to draw a line under it…I will never forget what the likes of this one and seven others put me through…I will never forget it because it was sad, awful and it was b****y cruel!”.
On reflection, Coleen later said she wished their reunion never happened, and claimed it almost caused her to step away from showbiz.
According to the Daily Mail, she added: “And then I thought…’I’m not going to let Kim Woodburn finish my career…she’s a cleaning lady!”.
News of Kim’s death was announced on Tuesday by her manager. A statement issued to press reads: “It is with immense sadness that we let you know our beloved Kim Woodburn passed away yesterday following a short illness. 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. We kindly ask that Kim’s husband and close friends are given the time and privacy they need to grieve. We will not be releasing any further details.”
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