Ask an Englishman.

[Nope]

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I have been watching a lot of British shows on Netflix and Hulu. Why is there a washing machine in so many of these television kitchens? They are usually right by the kitchen sink

That's...how pretty much every kitchen in the UK is designed. Is it different for the US? (Assuming that's where you're from)

 In my current home, my washer and dryer is in a separate laundry room.  When I was a child, the washer and dryer was in a large closet with doors that folded out. I've also lived in several houses where the washer and dryer were downstairs in the basement.