Dame Esther Rantzen: That's Life! presenter, Childline founder and campaigner for assisted dying
Summary
Dame Esther Rantzen, who died at age 86, was a TV presenter best known for the BBC show That's Life! and for founding Childline, a helpline for children facing abuse. She also campaigned for older people and the legalisation of assisted dying later in life.Key Facts
- Esther Rantzen was born on June 22, 1940, in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire.
- She was the presenter of the BBC consumer show That's Life!, starting in 1973.
- The show began by addressing consumer complaints and grew to include quirky and campaign features.
- Rantzen founded Childline, a national phone helpline for abused or neglected children.
- She campaigned for the rights of older people and for legal assisted death in her later years.
- Esther started her career at the BBC as a radio trainee and later worked in television research.
- She married documentary maker Desmond Wilcox in 1977 after a relationship that faced challenges at the BBC.
- Wilcox resigned from the BBC in 1980 due to conflicts over working with Rantzen.
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