'QUEEN of Clean' Kim Woodburn dusted off her overalls to deliver an inspiring speech at Business Link’s latest Women in Business lunch.

Kim, a star of Channel 4 show How Clean is your House? told a 100-strong audience of business women at the Hythe Imperial hotel of her rise to fame and how she still wakes up every morning wondering how it happened.

At the age of 61 she left her £12,000-a-year live-in cleaning job to shoot seven episodes of the programme that sees her and on-screen partner Aggie McKenzie clean up some of the dirtiest houses in the UK in their own unique style.

Kim said: "We were paid £2,000 an episode for our first series so I managed to earn my annual salary in just a few weeks. I couldn’t say no!"

“I didn’t think they would ever take me on. The assistant producer thought I was funny on the phone and so they sent a car to collect me for a screen test.

"I’m not quite as brave as I appear to be on TV – there are always some wet wipes on standby!"

At 65 years old, Kim has only had a few years to get used to being well known but says that she enjoys being recognised in the street.

"I still get a kick out of being asked for an autograph, especially when it’s by children. I’m too old for a showbiz lifestyle but we go to charity events when we are asked to and I’ve been lucky enough to be able to buy our house with cash.

"It just goes to show that it is never too late to live your dream!"

Edwina Currie is the guest speaker at Business Link’s next Women in Business lunch entitled ‘A Major Extravaganza’.

The Christmas celebration will be held on Thursday, December 13, at the Ramada Jarvis Hotel, Maidstone.

For further information, or to book tickets call 01732 878555.