Aggie MacKenzie
Encyclopedia
Agnes MacKenzie (born 12 October 1955), is a Scottish television presenter. She is most prominently known for co-presenting the Channel 4
series How Clean Is Your House?
with Kim Woodburn
.
in the Cairngorms
mountain region of the Scottish Highlands
and went to school at Kingussie High School. It was here that she discovered her aptitude
for languages. MacKenzie attended Aberdeen College of Commerce where she attained a bilingual secretarial degree which earned her a job at the Foreign Office. After being security-screened and undergoing background checks and interviews, she signed the Official Secrets Act and transferred from the Foreign Office to work with the Secret Intelligence Service, more commonly known as MI6, based in London. She worked in the organisation for a number of years and, even though she has now left, she is bound by the Official Secrets Act for life. She then took up a post at the National Union of Students Press Office. From here she moved to work at many women's magazines and then took the position of Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Good Housekeeping
Magazine. Part of her responsibilities there was to review cleaning products and gadgets and write about household appliances as well as to create new recipes. She claims to have learned many of her domestic, cooking and cleaning skills from her mother who knew many remedies for removing stains.
It was this position with Good Housekeeping which led to her being asked to take a screen test for a new show that would become How Clean Is Your House?. MacKenzie's screen test was successful and she was teamed up with professional cleaner Kim Woodburn
in August 2002. MacKenzie is known for her down to earth approach to cleaning with her Scottish, no nonsense voice, as she and Woodburn educate people on how to keep themselves and their houses clean, hygienic and tidy. The duo have produced books, games and DVDs due to the popularity of their shows. MacKenzie has also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
in the US, where How Clean Is Your House? is airing on the BBC America
.
She also appeared in the third series of ITV
's Dancing on Ice
with her dance partner Sergey Malyshev
.
MacKenzie has labelled Wikipedia
"Stupedia" for including unreferenced "ridiculous rumours" about her being offered multi-million pound television contracts.
Aggie appeared as a guest presenter on STV's daily lifestyle show The Hour, alongside main anchor Stephen Jardine
for two days in September 2009, and for four days in April 2010. The Scottish magazine programme airs weekdays at 5pm.
She participated in the 2011 series of Celebrity Masterchef.
; helping them with healthcare, education and housing. In an interview with Channel 4
she said: "Whenever I can, such as with this interview, I donate my fee to [the charity]".
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
series How Clean Is Your House?
How Clean is Your House?
How Clean Is Your House? was a British entertainment/lifestyle television programme in which expert cleaners Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie visited extremely filthy homes and then cleaned them to perfection...
with Kim Woodburn
Kim Woodburn
Kim Woodburn is an English television presenter and expert cleaner who is best known for co-presenting the British television programme How Clean Is Your House? and in 2007, starred in the Canadian series Kim's Rude Awakenings.-Early career:Woodburn undertook many jobs in her adult life...
.
Biography
MacKenzie was born in Rothiemurchus, AviemoreAviemore
Aviemore is a town and tourist resort, situated within the Cairngorms National Park in the Highlands of Scotland. It is in the Badenoch and Strathspey committee area, within the Highland council area. The town is popular for skiing and other winter sports, and for hill-walking in the Cairngorm...
in the Cairngorms
Cairngorms
The Cairngorms are a mountain range in the eastern Highlands of Scotland closely associated with the mountain of the same name - Cairn Gorm.-Name:...
mountain region of the Scottish Highlands
Scottish Highlands
The Highlands is an historic region of Scotland. The area is sometimes referred to as the "Scottish Highlands". It was culturally distinguishable from the Lowlands from the later Middle Ages into the modern period, when Lowland Scots replaced Scottish Gaelic throughout most of the Lowlands...
and went to school at Kingussie High School. It was here that she discovered her aptitude
Aptitude
An aptitude is an innate component of a competency to do a certain kind of work at a certain level. Aptitudes may be physical or mental...
for languages. MacKenzie attended Aberdeen College of Commerce where she attained a bilingual secretarial degree which earned her a job at the Foreign Office. After being security-screened and undergoing background checks and interviews, she signed the Official Secrets Act and transferred from the Foreign Office to work with the Secret Intelligence Service, more commonly known as MI6, based in London. She worked in the organisation for a number of years and, even though she has now left, she is bound by the Official Secrets Act for life. She then took up a post at the National Union of Students Press Office. From here she moved to work at many women's magazines and then took the position of Associate Editor-in-Chief of the Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
Magazine. Part of her responsibilities there was to review cleaning products and gadgets and write about household appliances as well as to create new recipes. She claims to have learned many of her domestic, cooking and cleaning skills from her mother who knew many remedies for removing stains.
It was this position with Good Housekeeping which led to her being asked to take a screen test for a new show that would become How Clean Is Your House?. MacKenzie's screen test was successful and she was teamed up with professional cleaner Kim Woodburn
Kim Woodburn
Kim Woodburn is an English television presenter and expert cleaner who is best known for co-presenting the British television programme How Clean Is Your House? and in 2007, starred in the Canadian series Kim's Rude Awakenings.-Early career:Woodburn undertook many jobs in her adult life...
in August 2002. MacKenzie is known for her down to earth approach to cleaning with her Scottish, no nonsense voice, as she and Woodburn educate people on how to keep themselves and their houses clean, hygienic and tidy. The duo have produced books, games and DVDs due to the popularity of their shows. MacKenzie has also appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show
The Oprah Winfrey Show is an American syndicated talk show hosted and produced by its namesake Oprah Winfrey. It ran nationally for 25 seasons beginning in 1986, before concluding in 2011. It is the highest-rated talk show in American television history....
in the US, where How Clean Is Your House? is airing on the BBC America
BBC America
BBC America is an American television network, owned and operated by BBC Worldwide, and available on both cable and satellite.-History:The channel launched on March 29, 1998, broadcasting comedy, drama and lifestyle programs from BBC Television and other British television broadcasters like ITV and...
.
She also appeared in the third series of ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
's Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice
Dancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
with her dance partner Sergey Malyshev
Sergey Malyshev
Sergey Malyshev is an ice dancer best known in the United Kingdom for appearing on the TV show Dancing on Ice. He appeared in the first series with Tamara Beckwith, however, they were voted off in the first week following a skate-off with the eventual series winner Gaynor Faye. He did not appear in...
.
MacKenzie has labelled Wikipedia
Wikipedia
Wikipedia is a free, web-based, collaborative, multilingual encyclopedia project supported by the non-profit Wikimedia Foundation. Its 20 million articles have been written collaboratively by volunteers around the world. Almost all of its articles can be edited by anyone with access to the site,...
"Stupedia" for including unreferenced "ridiculous rumours" about her being offered multi-million pound television contracts.
Aggie appeared as a guest presenter on STV's daily lifestyle show The Hour, alongside main anchor Stephen Jardine
Stephen Jardine
Stephen Jardine is a Scottish journalist and presenter. He has worked for Scottish Television, GMTV and Radio Tay. He now runs Scotland's first dedicated food and drink communications consultancy, Taste Communications.-Early years:...
for two days in September 2009, and for four days in April 2010. The Scottish magazine programme airs weekdays at 5pm.
She participated in the 2011 series of Celebrity Masterchef.
Charity work
MacKenzie has her own charity called Ukuthasa, which supports people in townships in South AfricaSouth Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
; helping them with healthcare, education and housing. In an interview with Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
she said: "Whenever I can, such as with this interview, I donate my fee to [the charity]".
Filmography
- How Clean Is Your House?How Clean is Your House?How Clean Is Your House? was a British entertainment/lifestyle television programme in which expert cleaners Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie visited extremely filthy homes and then cleaned them to perfection...
- Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
(2003–2009) - V Graham NortonV Graham NortonV Graham Norton was an entertainment programme shown on Channel 4 in the UK starring Graham Norton, broadcast every weeknight as a successor to the weekly So Graham Norton. It aired from 6 May 2002 to 26 December 2003. It featured celebrities who chatted with Graham and became involved in studio...
- Channel 4 (2003) - Children in NeedChildren in NeedChildren in Need is an annual British charity appeal organised by the BBC. Since 1980 it has raised over £500 million. The highlight of the Children in Need appeal is an annual telethon, held in November. A teddy bear named "Pudsey Bear" fronts the campaign, while Terry Wogan is a long...
- BBC OneBBC OneBBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
(2003) - The Terry and Gaby ShowThe Terry and Gaby ShowThe Terry and Gaby Show was a daytime television show broadcast on Five on weekday mornings between June 2003 and April 2004, produced by Chris Evans' company UMTV. It was hosted by Terry Wogan and Gaby Roslin....
- Five (2003) - Hogmanay Live - STV (2003)
- National Television Awards Party of the Year (2004)
- Hell's KitchenHell's Kitchen (UK TV series)Hell's Kitchen was a British cookery reality show aired on ITV which featured prospective chefs competing with each other for a final prize. Four series had been aired since 2004, three presented by Angus Deayton and the latest by Claudia Winkleman....
- ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
(2004) - BBC BreakfastBBC BreakfastBBC Breakfast is the morning television news programme simulcast on BBC One and the BBC News channel. It is presented live from BBC Television Centre in White City, West London, and contains a mixture of news, sport, weather, business and feature items...
- BBC One/BBC News 24BBC News 24BBC News is the BBC's 24-hour rolling news television network in the United Kingdom. The channel launched as BBC News 24 on 9 November 1997 at 17:30 as part of the BBC's foray into digital domestic television channels, becoming the first competitor to Sky News, which had been running since 1989...
(2004) - Friday Night with Jonathan RossFriday Night with Jonathan RossFriday Night with Jonathan Ross was a British comedy chat show presented by Jonathan Ross. It was first broadcast on BBC One on 2 November 2001. The programme featured Ross's take on current topics of conversation, guest interviews and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
- BBC One (2004) - Too Posh To WashToo Posh To WashToo Posh To Wash was a spin-off show of How Clean Is Your House? on Channel 4 and S4C starring Kim Woodburn and Aggie MacKenzie. The program was first broadcast on 19 October 2004. It featured 6 dirty people.-Formula:...
- Channel 4 (2004) - This MorningThis Morning (TV series)This Morning is a British daytime television programme broadcast on ITV. As of September 2011, its main presenters are Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, and Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes, with various other presenters standing in for illness or contributing to sections of the programme.The...
- ITV (2004) - EastEndersEastEndersEastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
- BBC One (2004) - Today with Des and MelToday with Des and MelToday with Des and Mel was a British television series hosted by Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes. The show featured celebrity guests, phone-in competitions and chat between the hosts. It was produced by Carlton Television, at The London Studios...
- ITV (2005) - Dirty TricksDirty tricksDirty tricks are unethical, duplicitous, slanderous or illegal tactics employed to destroy or diminish the effectiveness of political or business opponents...
(2005) - The Paul O'Grady ShowThe Paul O'Grady ShowThe Paul O'Grady Show was a BAFTA award-winning British comedy chat show hosted by Birkenhead-born comedian Paul O'Grady. The format was originally devised by Granada Television and was broadcast on ITV before moving to Channel 4...
- ITV/Channel 4 (2005/2006) - The F-WordThe F-WordThe F Word is a British food magazine and cooking show featuring chef Gordon Ramsay. The programme covers a wide range of topics, from recipes to food preparation and celebrity food fads. The programme is made by Optomen Television and aired weekly on Channel 4...
- Channel 4 (2005) - The 100 Greatest Family Films - Channel 4 (2005)
- Grumpy Old WomenGrumpy Old WomenFor the live show, see Grumpy Old Women LiveGrumpy Old Women is a British television series, continuing in the same vein as its predecessor, Grumpy Old Men. Both programmes are shown on BBC Two. The first two series were narrated by Alison Steadman, and the third by Judith Holder...
- BBC TwoBBC TwoBBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
(2006) - Richard & JudyRichard & JudyRichard & Judy was a British magazine/chat show which was presented by married couple Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. It originally aired on Channel 4 from 2001 to 2008 but later moved to digital channel Watch in October 2008. It featured the world's most famous stars, along with their Book Club...
- Channel 4 (2006) - Come Dine With MeCome Dine With MeCome Dine With Me is a popular Channel 4 television programme shown in the United Kingdom, produced by Granada Television and first broadcast in January 2005. The show has either four or five amateur chefs competing against each other hosting a dinner party for the other contestants...
- Channel 4 (2006) - The MintThe Mint (game show)The Mint was a live, late night, interactive quiz show with celebrity guests and live studio contestants filmed in a large extravagant set designed to look like the inside of a mansion. The programme, which was dogged by criticism that its questions were ambiguous and arbitrary, aired on ITV and...
- ITV PlayITV PlayITV Play was a 24/7 participation television channel in the United Kingdom owned by ITV plc. The ITV Play name continued on the ITV Network until December 2007....
(2006) - Hogmanay Stories - STV (2006)
- Dancing On IceDancing on IceDancing on Ice is a British television show co-hosted by Christine Bleakley and Philip Schofield, in which celebrities and their professional partners figure skate in front of a panel of judges. The format, devised by LWT and Granada Television, has been a prime-time hit in eight different...
- (2008) - Loose WomenLoose WomenLoose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
- (2008) - Hider in the HouseHider in the HouseHider in the House was a British children's game show presented by Jason King and Joel Ross . In the programme, a celebrity had to be hidden in a family's house by three children and a parent. If the family have fewer than three children, they use friends or related children to make up the numbers...
- (2008) - The Hour - (2009)
- All Star Family Fortunes - (2010)
- Celebrity MasterChef - (2011)