Dame Esther Rantzen, Pioneering British Broadcaster and Childline Founder, Dies Aged 86

Dame Esther Rantzen, one of the most recognisable figures in British television for four decades, has died at the age of 86, according to an obituary published by The Guardian.

Rantzen rose to prominence as the presenter and producer of That's Life!, a BBC programme that blended entertainment with consumer reporting and ran for 21 years from 1973. The show became a platform not only for consumer advocacy but also for raising awareness of social issues affecting children.

Founding Childline

Out of her work on That's Life!, Rantzen went on to establish Childline, a telephone helpline that allows children to report abuse and bullying confidentially. The service became one of her most significant and lasting contributions, providing a channel for young people to seek help that had not previously existed in the same form.

Beyond That's Life!, Rantzen presented other programmes over the course of her career, including Hearts of Gold, which ran from 1988 to 1996, and a chat show titled Esther, which aired from 1994 to 2002. She also stepped into the entertainment spotlight herself, appearing as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and on I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here! in 2008.

In her later years, Rantzen became a prominent advocate for changing the law to allow assisted dying for terminally ill people, campaigning publicly on the issue as part of her broader legacy of consumer and public advocacy.

Her career spanned a wide range of British broadcasting formats, from investigative consumer journalism to light entertainment, and she is remembered for using her media profile to push for concrete changes, from child protection services to end-of-life rights.