Dame Esther Rantzen, the celebrated presenter best known for hosting the BBC’s That’s Life! and for founding the Childline helpline, has died. She was 86.
Her children released a statement confirming the news, expressing gratitude that she is now reunited with her late husband, Desmond Wilcox. They added, “We will miss her immeasurably” and expressed hope that the “humour, ingenuity and audacity” she brought to her professional life would continue to inspire others.
Rantzen was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in January 2023. During the subsequent years, she became a high-profile advocate for assisted dying legislation.
I never realized how active her campaign for assisted dying was until now. A complex end to a life full of impact.
What an incredible legacy. She changed the world for vulnerable children and then fought for her own dignity. Truly remarkable.