Dame Esther Rantzen Dies at 86 After Cancer Battle

Dame Esther Rantzen, the iconic television presenter and founder of Childline, has died at the age of 86. She passed away following a three-year battle with lung cancer.

Her children announced her death, stating their mother was "finally at rest." Dame Esther, who hosted the BBC's 'That's Life!' for 21 years, revealed her lung cancer diagnosis in January 2023. The diagnosis came despite her having quit smoking in 1970.

Dame Esther had joined Dignitas, an assisted dying clinic, but became too frail to travel. She had been a vocal advocate for legalizing assisted dying in England and Wales, criticizing current laws as "messy and cruel."

Tributes poured in from across the nation, with Prime Minister Andy Burnham praising her "characteristic courage and openness" in discussing end-of-life issues. The NSPCC, which runs Childline, also shared their grief.

In a posthumously released letter, Dame Esther thanked her fans for their support, bidding them farewell. Lung cancer, a disease that doesn't always show early symptoms, affects many in the UK, with survival rates varying significantly by stage.