The death of TV personality Kim Woodburn, aged 83, was announced earlier today. A statement shared revealed that Kim had died following a short illness, but in the weeks before her death, the outspoken star had sparked health concerns among her fans.
Earlier today (June 17), it was confirmed today that Kim Woodburn had sadly died. The cause of her death hasn’t been revealed. However, Kim has had many health struggles over the years. And she even had to cancel her work commitments in the lead up to her heartbreaking death.
Death of Kim Woodburn aged 83
Kim’s representatives confirmed her passing earlier this morning. They released a statement to share the sad news.
It read: “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.”
While her cause of death hasn’t been revealed, over the years, Kim has suffered health issues such as blindness, alopecia, an underactive thyroid and severe neck pain.
Blindness in right eye
Back in 2011, Kim revealed that she was virtually blind in her right eye and had restricted sight in the other.
According to Express, Kim said: “If you watch me carefully you will see I never stare at people and I blink a lot. If I do have to see something across the room I swivel my entire body around and look from my good eye.”
While she noticed the difference in her eyes at a young age, she actually kept it a secret until she was a young adult because she didn’t want “to wear glasses”. Although, waiting so long to tell someone meant it was harder for her to get help.
Then, in February this year it was announced that Kim was undergoing “surgery to the eye”. While it’s not known what the surgery was for, fans sent their best wishes to Kim at the time.
Alopecia
Another thing Kim was diagnosed with was alopecia. This is when someone gets patches of baldness on their scalp. Kim suffered with it for 40 years, but at one point it got so bad that she had to go to the doctor.
She said: “After a huge bald patch, maybe a couple of inches in diameter, had developed on the nape of my neck, I had to talk to the doctor about it. If I didn’t have long hair, I wouldn’t have been able to hide it and I wouldn’t have left the house. It was so bad.”
Sometimes the cause of alopecia is unknown. But in Kim’s case the doctor managed to work out that she was deficient in B-12 vitamin. She began taking injections and eventually her hair recovered.
Underactive thyroid
Speaking to The Mirror in the same interview, Kim confirmed that an underactive thyroid runs in her family. In 2016, she revealed she was diagnosed with the condition 20 years ago.
Kim said: “I noticed I was getting very tired and hot. I would be walking around in winter without a coat on because I felt like I was burning up. I have been taking medication since then, and touch wood, everything has been fine.”
Neck surgery prior to Kim Woodburn’s death
In 2022, Kim worried fans by posting a snap from the hospital with a tube in her nose and a paper bedpan on her head. But following speculation she was ill, Kim headed onto GB News to shut down the rumours.
She showed the hosts a huge bandage on her neck and insisted she was not ill.
According to Metro, Kim said: “I’ve got this on my neck. Now, I had my neck cut yesterday. I had a very bad disc in the back of my neck right here, and it was affecting my hands. So I haven’t been able to use them. I went into hospital on Wednesday and he’s cut my throat a big gash here – I’ve just had a chin lift.”
Breast reduction surgery
After Kim’s iconic time in the I’m A Celebrity… jungle, she made the decision to have a breast reduction.
Reported by OK!, Kim revealed that she saw how they looked when she left the jungle, and thought they were “awful”.
She said in 2024: “I have had my breasts reduced. I have always had huge knockers, they were very big and they were hanging badly. When I saw this after the jungle, I thought, oh God, Kim they look awful love.
“So I went and got them made smaller. So now, listen up, if I take my bra off they’re firm and pert just like an 18 year old’s.”
Kim Woodburn cancelled work commitments before death
In March this year, following Kim’s eye surgery, a statement was released stating she would be cancelling her future work commitments.
A post on Instagram read: “We regret to tell you that Kim is unable to record any further videos for the foreseeable future due to a health problem.”
Kim penned her own caption for the post, in what would become her final upload to the site, writing: “No more videos for now, my loves. I need to get better!”
Read more: Katie Price branded a ‘tattooed monster’ by I’m A Celebrity co-star Kim Woodburn
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