- Broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86, with her family paying tribute to her legacy of compassion and describing her as a cherished mother and grandmother with an endless capacity for joy.
- She became a household name across the UK as the presenter of the pioneering BBC series That’s Life! from 1973 to 1994, which mixed serious consumer journalism with humorously eccentric stories.
- A dedicated philanthropist, Dame Esther founded the children's helpline Childline in 1986 and later established The Silver Line in 2013 to offer companionship to lonely and vulnerable older people.
- In her final years following a diagnosis of stage four cancer, she became a leading campaigner for assisted dying reform in the UK, using her personal experience to urge MPs to legalise the practice.
- While she had signed up with the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas in December 2023 to give herself options, she confirmed in September 2026 that her health meant it was too late for her to travel abroad.
IN FULL
