Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
Dame Esther Rantzen, known for presenting the BBC programme *That’s Life!* for more than two decades and founding the charity Childline, has passed away at the age of 86. Throughout her career, she made a profound impact as both a broadcaster and a campaigner, touching the lives of many. Prime Minister Andy Burnham highlighted her legacy, saying she “changed countless lives.”
*That’s Life!* aired from 1973 until 1994, during which Dame Esther served as both host and producer. The show attracted up to 20 million viewers at its peak, offering a unique blend of consumer investigations alongside lighter, entertaining segments. Beyond her television career, she established Childline in 1986, providing counselling support to children and young people across the UK. In 2013, she also set up the Silver Line charity to assist elderly individuals facing loneliness and isolation. Later in life, Dame Esther campaigned passionately for the legalisation of assisted dying.
Dame Esther’s terminal lung cancer diagnosis became public in late 2023. That December, she revealed that she had joined Dignitas, a Swiss clinic offering assisted dying services. However, she later explained in a statement to the Press Association that despite having “spent the money and made the plans” for the journey, she had become “too physically fragile” to travel. Ahead of parliamentary debates on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which ultimately did not pass the House of Commons, she called urgently for changes to the law, emphasizing the need for reform to “change and change quickly.”
Her early career began at the BBC as a sound effects assistant before training as a producer and director in 1968. She first worked on Bernard Braden’s consumer affairs programme *Braden’s Week* as a researcher and reporter. When *That’s Life!* launched, she quickly became a familiar and much-loved figure, noted for her dynamic presenting style and commitment to exposing consumer issues. The programme featured memorable campaigns on topics such as child abuse, organ donation, playground safety, and fair treatment for consumers. A particularly iconic moment was the 1988 episode that introduced Holocaust rescuer Sir Nicholas Winton to survivors he had saved. Later in life, Dame Esther appeared on programmes including *Strictly Come Dancing*, *First Dates*, and *I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!*
Dame Esther was married to documentary filmmaker Desmond Wilcox from 1977 until his death in 2000, and they had three children together. She was honoured with a damehood in 2015 in recognition of her services to children and older people. Tributes have poured in from across politics, broadcasting, and charity sectors, reflecting on her remarkable contributions. The Prime Minister praised her courage and openness about her illness, while BBC’s director-general Matt Brittin described her as a “legend of British broadcasting” with an “immeasurable” impact on public life. Kim Leadbeater, an MP who supported the assisted dying bill, praised Dame Esther’s combination of strength, feistiness, and compassion. Meanwhile, Chris Sherwood, CEO of the NSPCC, lauded her exceptional dedication to providing support for young people in need. Her *That’s Life!* co-presenter Bill Buckley remembered her as relentless and determined, saying she “saw the light at the end of the tunnel and followed it doggedly.”
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.