Dame Esther Rantzen has sadly passed away at the age of 86 after battling stage four lung cancer. Announcing her death, Rantzen’s family paid tribute to the "most wonderful mother" and "cherished grandmother" who will be remembered for her "endless capacity for joy".
In the statement delivered to PA, her three children said: "Our adored mother, Dame Esther Rantzen, died today. Her legacy of compassion and understanding will live on in her charities Childline and the Silverline, and through those of us who were lucky enough to love and be loved by her.
"We are grateful she is finally at rest with her beloved husband, Desmond Wilcox, but we will miss her immeasurably. She was our sunshine. We will always remember her endless capacity for joy, her ability to comfort every heartache, her beautiful way with words and her expert guidance in all things.
"She was the most wonderful mother to us three children and a cherished grandmother to her five treasured grandchildren. We have been so lucky for so long, no matter how much time we had with Mum it could be never be enough, but we are so grateful for our lives together."
© Getty ImagesThe statement continued: "Mum's work with charities and campaigning, particularly for children, older people, and the terminally ill, meant the world to her so thank you to everyone who has written to her, shared their stories with her over the years and worked alongside her. We hope the humour, ingenuity and audacity she brought to her work may continue to inspire you as it will do us. We kindly ask that we are given privacy and time to grieve."
The broadcaster and TV star, who is best known for starring in BBC's That's Life!, was diagnosed with lung cancer in January 2023.
© Getty ImagesAt the time, she said in a statement: "I have decided not to keep this secret anymore because I find it difficult to skulk around various hospitals wearing an unconvincing disguise, and because I would rather you heard the facts from me.
"At the age of 82, this diagnosis has prompted me to look back over the years, and I want to express my profound thanks to everyone who has made my life so joyful, filled with fun, and with inspiration."
© Getty ImagesShe announced that her lung cancer had progressed to stage 4 in May 2023, meaning the cancer had spread beyond the lungs or from one lung to the other.
Reflecting on her diagnosis, Esther told The Mirror: "I'm not good at regrets. What I treasure most are the fantastic friendships I have made thanks to That's Life! during the last 50 years, the people I met, and the team who worked so hard, and laughed so hard, together for so long."
Campaign for assisted dying
In December 2023, Esther revealed that she'd joined the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. Of her decision to join the clinic, Esther said she didn't want her family's last memories of her to be "painful" because "if you watch someone you love having a bad death, that memory obliterates all the happy times".
During her lifetime, Esther led a petition to force a parliamentary debate into assisted dying. Assisted suicide is banned in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, with a maximum prison sentence of 14 years.
© Getty ImagesWhile there is no specific offence of assisted suicide in Scotland, euthanasia is illegal and can be prosecuted as murder or culpable homicide. The latest attempt to legalise it in the United Kingdom recently failed.
Although she had wanted to go to Dignitas, Esther's condition progressed to the point that she was unable to travel. In a statement issued earlier in September, she said: "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."
Other work
Aside from appearing in That's Life!, Dame Esther famously launched ChildLine in 1986 – the first national helpline for children in danger in distress.
© Getty ImagesIn 2013, meanwhile, she launched the Silver Line which helps elderly people suffering from isolation and loneliness. She was made a DBE in 2015 for services to children and older people in recognition of her charity work.
