Dame Esther Rantzen, Broadcaster and Childline Founder, Dies at 86
Dame Esther Rantzen, the broadcaster who founded Childline and campaigned for assisted dying, has died at 86 after living with stage four lung cancer since 2023.
Dame Esther Rantzen, the broadcaster and campaigner who founded the children's helpline Childline, has died at the age of 86. She had been living with stage four lung cancer since 2023, when she revealed her diagnosis publicly.
Rantzen became one of the most recognisable figures in British television, best known for presenting the long-running BBC series That's Life!, which combined consumer journalism with entertainment and ran for more than two decades. The programme's mix of investigations, humorous items and public appeals made her a household name and demonstrated the reach of television as a tool for social change.
Her most enduring legacy is Childline, the free and confidential counselling service for young people that she founded in 1986. The charity grew out of a segment on That's Life! and became a permanent national institution, offering a lifeline to children facing abuse, bullying and other serious problems. Rantzen's work on the helpline earned her widespread recognition and established her as a leading advocate for child protection in the UK.
In her final years, Rantzen became a prominent voice in the debate over assisted dying. After her cancer diagnosis, she spoke candidly about her own mortality and said she had considered travelling to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland. She later remarked that it was too late for her to «buzz off» to Dignitas as planned, as MPs voted once again on the assisted dying bill. Her interventions kept the issue in the public eye and added a personal dimension to a highly sensitive political debate.
Rantzen was made a dame in recognition of her services to broadcasting and charity. Tributes have been paid to her across the media and by the organisations she helped build, with many highlighting her combination of warmth, determination and a willingness to tackle difficult subjects on air.
She remained active in public life well into her eighties, celebrating her 85th birthday before her health declined further. Her family confirmed her death, and her passing has prompted an outpouring of remembrance from colleagues, campaigners and members of the public whose lives were touched by her work.
Beyond Childline, Rantzen was involved in a range of charitable and campaigning causes, including efforts to support older people and to improve the way institutions respond to vulnerable individuals. Her career spanned journalism, entertainment and advocacy, and she was frequently cited as an example of how broadcasting could be used to hold power to account and to mobilise public opinion.
The assisted dying debate in which she participated remains unresolved, with parliament continuing to consider legislation on the matter. Rantzen's decision to speak openly about her own wishes gave the discussion a human face and ensured that the arguments around dignity, choice and the law were heard by a wide audience.
She is survived by her family, who have asked for privacy at this time. The charities she founded are expected to continue her work, and her contribution to British public life is likely to be remembered for years to come.
4
