Dame Esther Rantzen, the celebrated broadcaster best known for presenting the BBC’s That’s Life! for two decades and for establishing the Childline charity, has died at the age of 86. Her family confirmed the news on Wednesday.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham paid tribute to the campaigner, stating she had “changed countless lives” through her work. Dame Esther served as the figurehead and producer of That’s Life! from its launch in 1973 until 1994. The consumer-focused programme frequently drew an audience of 20 million viewers, balancing investigative reports with lighter entertainment.
Her humanitarian efforts extended far beyond television. In 1986, she founded Childline, a counselling service supporting children and young people in the UK. She later expanded her advocacy to older adults, launching the Silver Line in 2013 to combat isolation among the elderly.
In her final years, Dame Esther became a high-profile advocate for assisted dying legislation. After being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in January 2023, she revealed in December 2023 that she had joined Dignitas, the Swiss clinic offering assisted dying. However, earlier this month, she stated that she was too physically frail to undertake the journey despite having made financial arrangements.
She renewed her calls for legal reform ahead of the latest debate on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, which failed to pass through the House of Commons. In a November 2025 interview with the Sunday Times, she expressed that she would die happily knowing future generations might have the choice to end their lives with dignity.
During her broadcasting career, That’s Life! produced several iconic segments, including campaigns for consumer justice, safe playgrounds, and organ transplant awareness. The show’s most-watched episode occurred in 1988, featuring the first meeting between Sir Nicholas Winton and survivors of the Holocaust he had helped save.
Dame Esther began her career in radio as a sound effects assistant before moving into television production. She was made a dame in 2015 in recognition of her services to children and older people. She is survived by her three children from her marriage to documentary filmmaker Desmond Wilcox, who passed away in 2000.
Tributes have poured in from across the sector. BBC director-general Matt Brittin described her as a “legend of British broadcasting” whose warmth and fight for justice left an immeasurable impact. Kim Leadbeater, the Labour MP who sponsored the assisted dying bill, praised her unique combination of “strength and feistiness” alongside deep compassion.
Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, highlighted her exceptional dedication to ensuring vulnerable youth had access to support. Dame Esther’s former co-presenter Bill Buckley told BBC Radio 4 that nothing would stop her from pursuing causes she believed in.
A half-hour special programme titled Esther! will air on BBC iPlayer and BBC One on Friday, 2 October, at 19:30 BST.
I watched That’s Life! as a kid. Did anyone else remember the Nicolas Winton episode? Absolutely iconic.
Childline has helped so many vulnerable children. A truly remarkable legacy beyond just television.