Broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen dies

Dame Esther Rantzen, who passed away at the age of 86, was most recognized for her role in presenting the long-running BBC TV program "That's Life!" This popular show, which spanned over two decades, transformed from a quirky consumer program into a platform for high-profile campaigns, with a significant focus on issues like child abuse.

Following these campaigns, Rantzen founded Childline, a nationwide telephone helpline offering support to children who were victims of abuse or neglect. As she grew older, she became an influential advocate for the rights of older people, and in her later years, she championed the legalization of medically-assisted death.

Born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire on June 22, 1940, Esther Louise Rantzen had Polish Jewish ancestry on her father's side. Growing up in a semi-rural setting after her family returned to London following World War II, she later expressed her preference for the countryside over the urban environment of her early years. After attending a private school run by a stern headmistress, she attended North London Collegiate School in Edgware, and later obtained her degree in English from Somerville College, Oxford.

She actively participated in the Oxford University Dramatic Society and the Experimental Theatre Group.

Rantzen began her career as a trainee studio manager at BBC Radio before transitioning to television as a researcher on the satirical show BBC3. It was there that she met documentary filmmaker Desmond Wilcox, who invited her to give a talk at a local youth club. They later began a relationship, which sparked internal tensions within her department, particularly due to the fact that Wilcox's wife, Patsy, was also a colleague.

In 1968, she joined the Braden's Week programme, a consumer show hosted by Canadian presenter Bernard Braden. It was during this period that Rantzen made her first on-screen appearance, impressing producers with her performance. In 1972, Braden was dismissed from the BBC, leading to the program's revamp as "That's Life!" with Rantzen as its main presenter.

The show gained instant popularity, evolving from a consumer protection program to a series with various quirky elements, such as the Jobsworth award and Heap of the Week. Throughout her tenure, Rantzen was paired with co-hosts like Paul Heiney, Chris Searle, and Bob Wellings, along with comedian Cyril Fletcher delivering his "Odd Odes."

Despite occasional conflicts, notably with Wilcox, the show solidified its position as a cultural institution.