Dame Esther Rantzen, That's Life presenter and Childline founder, dies aged 86
Broadcaster Dame Esther Rantzen has died at 86 after battling stage four lung cancer, concluding a career defined by 21 years anchoring That's Life and founding the Childline helpline.
Television career and That's Life
Dame Esther Rantzen, the television presenter who fronted the BBC consumer affairs programme That's Life for 21 years, has died at the age of 86 following a diagnosis of stage four lung cancer. Born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, in 1940, Rantzen started her career in 1963 as a BBC radio studio manager before shifting to television production as a researcher. She moved in front of the camera in 1968 on the consumer affairs show Braden's Week, before being appointed main host of That's Life at its launch in 1973. Combining investigative journalism, consumer advocacy, and lighthearted comedy, the broadcast drew more than 20 million viewers at its peak. After That's Life concluded in 1994, she hosted the BBC Two talk show Esther until 2002, created the series Hearts of Gold in 1988, and presented Old Dogs, New Tricks alongside television appearances on Strictly Come Dancing and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here in 2008.
Foundation of Childline
Beyond her screen career, Rantzen established one of Britain's most prominent child protection organisations. Following a television pitch about child abuse to then BBC controller Michael Grade, a dedicated set of phone lines was opened for 48 hours to enable young callers to speak directly with social workers. The substantial volume of calls prompted Rantzen to turn the emergency phone service into a permanent fixture, formally launching the charity Childline in 1986. Her work across media and charitable causes brought numerous honours, including an OBE for services to broadcasting, Bafta's Richard Dimbleby award for factual programming, and a lifetime achievement award at the Women in Film and Television awards. Her family remembered her in an announcement as a wonderful mother and cherished grandmother who maintained an endless capacity for joy.
- Born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire
- Begins career as a BBC radio studio manager
- Becomes television presenter on Braden's Week
- Begins 21-year tenure hosting That's Life
- Launches children's support charity Childline
- Creates television programme Hearts of Gold
- Launches BBC Two chat show Esther
- Announces diagnosis of stage four lung cancer
- Backs assisted dying bill introduced by Kim Leadbeater
- Announces inability to travel to Dignitas before her death at 86
Assisted dying campaign and final years
In May 2023, Rantzen made public her diagnosis of terminal stage four lung cancer and subsequently directed her public profile toward reforming UK legislation on assisted dying. Describing existing legal restrictions as messy and cruel, she joined the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas roughly one year after learning of her illness. Although she planned to travel to Switzerland to end her life if pain became unmanageable, she announced on 10 September 2026 that physical deterioration had made overseas travel impossible.
Unfortunately, when I was strong enough to make the flight and go to Dignitas, my life was not unbearably painful, indeed, I was able to relax in my beloved cottage in the New Forest. And by the time life did become unbearable, I was too physically fragile to make the journey and go through the Dignitas process. So even though I had spent the money and made the plans, I was not ready to end my life back then, and did not realise that would be my last chance.
Rantzen maintained public engagement with the legislative process until her death, offering vocal backing to an assisted dying bill introduced to parliament by Kim Leadbeater in October 2024. Following the defeat of the private member's bill to reform the law for England and Wales in September 2026, Rantzen described the parliamentary vote as a tragic day that denied terminally ill patients options available in other nations.
