Dame Esther Rantzen, one of Britain's most recognisable television presenters and the founder of Childline, has died at the age of 86.
Her death was confirmed by her family on Wednesday, September 30, bringing to an end a remarkable career spanning television, journalism and decades of public campaigning.
Rantzen was best known as the presenter of the hugely popular BBC programme That's Life!, but her influence extended far beyond broadcasting. She founded Childline in 1986 and later established The Silver Line to support older people experiencing loneliness.
Her family described her as a deeply loved mother and grandmother while tributes began appearing across British television and public life.
Who was Esther Rantzen?
Born in London in 1940, Esther Rantzen became one of the defining personalities of British television during the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Her breakthrough came with That's Life!, which began broadcasting in 1973.
The programme mixed consumer investigations, serious social issues and entertainment in a format that became enormously popular with British audiences.
Rantzen presented the programme for more than two decades, remaining associated with it until its conclusion in 1994.
At its peak, That's Life! attracted audiences of more than 20 million viewers and became an important platform for highlighting consumer problems and previously overlooked social issues.
Childline became part of her legacy
Perhaps Rantzen's most significant contribution outside television was the creation of Childline.
She founded the charity in 1986 following work examining child abuse and the difficulties children faced when trying to seek help.
Childline provided children with a confidential service where they could speak about abuse, neglect and other serious problems affecting their lives.
The organisation became one of Britain's best known children's charities and remains closely associated with Rantzen's name.
Her campaigning demonstrated how television could move beyond reporting social problems and help create practical services for people affected by them.
She later founded The Silver Line
Rantzen continued her charity work later in life.
She established The Silver Line in 2013 to provide support and companionship for older people experiencing loneliness and isolation.
The project reflected another issue that became central to her campaigning: the emotional impact of loneliness among elderly people.
Her work with Childline and The Silver Line helped establish a public legacy that extended well beyond her television career.
Esther Rantzen had stage four lung cancer
Rantzen revealed in January 2023 that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer.
She subsequently disclosed that the disease had reached stage four.
Despite her illness, she continued giving interviews and participating in public debate.
Her health had deteriorated significantly by September 2026, with reports earlier in the month saying she had become too physically fragile to travel to Switzerland.
Assisted dying became her final major campaign
During the final years of her life, Rantzen became a prominent supporter of changing assisted dying laws in Britain.
She spoke publicly about her terminal cancer diagnosis and her wish to have greater control over the circumstances of her death.
The issue became one of the most prominent and politically sensitive campaigns associated with her later life.
Reuters reported that Rantzen had considered travelling to Switzerland, where assisted dying is permitted under certain circumstances, but her declining health eventually made travelling there impossible.
Her advocacy placed her at the centre of Britain's national debate on assisted dying.
A television career that changed British broadcasting
Rantzen's influence on British television was significant.
That's Life! demonstrated that serious consumer journalism and social campaigning could coexist with mainstream entertainment.
The programme investigated consumer complaints and highlighted issues ranging from child safety to organ donation while maintaining an accessible format for a mass television audience.
Rantzen also used television to address subjects that were rarely discussed openly at the time, including child abuse, mental health and stillbirth.
Her broadcasting career brought numerous awards and honours.
She received an OBE and was later made a Dame in recognition of her services to children and older people.
Tributes follow Esther Rantzen's death
News of Rantzen's death prompted immediate tributes across Britain.
Her family remembered her as a devoted mother and grandmother, while broadcasters and public figures highlighted both her television career and decades of charitable work.
For millions of British viewers, she will remain closely associated with That's Life!.
For many others, her most enduring contribution will be Childline and the support it has provided to vulnerable children since its creation four decades ago.
Rantzen is survived by her three children and five grandchildren.
Her death closes a chapter in British broadcasting history, but the organisations and campaigns she helped create ensure that her influence continues far beyond television.
