Dame Esther Rantzen has been remembered as a forceful campaigner and “inspirational” figure following her death at the age of 86. The veteran presenter, who passed away on Wednesday, is best known for her long-running role on the BBC consumer programme That’s Life! and for establishing the children’s helpline Childline in the 1980s.
Shaun Friel, director of Childline, told BBC Breakfast that Dame Esther possessed a remarkable ability to energise and persuade others. “She inspired people, she energised people, she persuaded people,” Friel said, adding that she was “quite a force” whenever she identified an issue requiring change.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham led the public tributes, stating that the broadcaster had “changed countless lives.” BBC director general Matt Brittin described her as a “legend of British broadcasting” whose dedication to justice and action extended well beyond her television career.
Dame Esther founded Childline in 1986 after covering cases of child abuse and neglect on That’s Life!, recognising that many young people lacked a support network. Chris Sherwood, chief executive of the NSPCC, which merged with Childline in 2006, praised her for going to “exceptional lengths” to provide a lifeline for vulnerable children across the UK.
Her philanthropic efforts expanded in 2013 with the launch of The Silver Line, a service designed to combat isolation and loneliness among older adults. In her later years, Dame Esther became a prominent advocate for the legalisation of assisted dying, a cause she pursued openly after revealing her terminal lung cancer diagnosis.
She had previously registered with Dignitas, the Swiss clinic offering assisted dying, but indicated last month that she was too frail to travel. Burnham highlighted her “characteristic courage and openness” regarding her illness, noting that her honesty prompted national reflection on end-of-life issues.
Fellow broadcasters and public figures joined the outpouring of condolences. Money-saving expert Martin Lewis called her a “pioneer,” while Baroness Jan Royall remembered her as a “formidable” woman with a “zest for life” and a wicked sense of humour. Bill Buckley, her co-presenter on That’s Life!, said she was relentless in her campaigning, noting that “nothing would stop her.”
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I had no idea she also launched The Silver Line for lonely seniors. She never stopped caring about others, didn’t she?
Childline truly changed the landscape for vulnerable children. A remarkable legacy that will endure for generations to come.