In memoriam: Dame Esther Rantzen
Dame Esther Rantzen, acclaimed television presenter and campaigner, has died. She was 86 years old.
She began at the BBC as a sound effects assistant, before launching her presenting career on the satire show BBC-3 in 1965. In 1968, Rantzen became a presenter on Braden’s Week at the request of the producers who wanted the researchers to have a visible presence on screen.
Her most famous presenting gig was probably That’s Life! which was hosted by Rantzen for 21 years, from 1973 until 1994. A consumer affairs programme cum light variety show, That’s Life! regularly hit figures of over 10 million viewers at its peak, as well as receiving over 10,000 viewer letters a week.
Rantzen was also noted in her campaign work, especially for children and the elderly. In 1986 she created Childline, a freephone counselling service for children and young people, offering impartial advice on a range of issues from bullying at school to dealing with divorce, substance misuse and child neglect. Over 6 million people have benefited from its services within the last 40 years. She also created The Silver Line, a 24 hour freephone line for older people struggling with loneliness.
Her most recent campaigning involved the attempted legalisation of assisted dying in the UK for people recently diagnosed with life limiting illnesses. A vote held in Parliament in 2024 supported this campaign, however another vote a few weeks ago rejected the proposal. Rantzen herself had made plans to go to Dignitas, a euthanasia centre in Switzerland, but said in a statement last month that she was physically unable to go.
Rantzen died at home on 30th September 2026. Former BBC1 controller Michael Grade, who initially offered her the stint on That’s Life!, said he haslost a friend, and the nation has lost one of the great broadcasting pioneers.
Dame Esther Rantzen
1940 - 2026
May she rest in peace 🕊️