Dame Esther Rantzen has left an “incredible legacy” and helped thousands of children through her charity efforts, her former That’s Life! co-star Adrian Mills has said.
The broadcaster and campaigner has been remembered by a host of celebrities following her death aged 86.
The news was announced by her family in a statement which praised Dame Esther as “the most wonderful mother” and a “cherished grandmother”.
Dame Esther started her career as a broadcaster and became a household name after hosting That’s Life!, and went on to establish charities helping the young and old.
After being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023, she also became a prominent voice in the attempt to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.
Dame Esther featured a number of incidents of child abuse and neglect on That’s Life! with Mills recalling the “thousands” of children who reached out to the programme thanks to her efforts.
He told Good Morning Britain: “The first I knew about it was Esther wrote the script on Friday and said: ‘I’m putting something in the script and I’d like you to read it’.
“It was from a young boy who was being severely abused.
“I read that letter out, this was before mobile phones and online media, the following week we received, not one or two, but thousands of letters from children all over the country.
“Esther said, ‘I am going to do something about this and no one is going to stop me’ and goodness me, what a legacy that is.”
Mills also praised Dame Esther’s “dry sense of humour” and said she “didn’t tolerate people who didn’t give 100%” at work.
He added: “She was the most remarkable broadcaster, she was one of the greatest friends.
“Right up to the end, she was part of a That’s Life! WhatsApp group.
“There are very few broadcasters who are known only by one name.
“Her legacy is incredible.”
Dame Esther’s friend and fellow broadcaster Gloria Hunniford said: “She was unique.
“There was never anybody like Esther and there probably never will be again.”
Hunniford praised Dame Esther for speaking about loneliness after the death of her husband Desmond Wilcox in 2000.
The broadcaster founded The Silver Line Helpline in 2012, a confidential helpline offering friendship and advice to people aged 55 and over who are experiencing loneliness.
Hunniford said: “When Desmond died, she was very open.
“She came out and talked about, when you lose your partner, how it’s lonely.
“She talked about loneliness is her own life and I thought that was brave, very open.”
Hunniford was sad not to have seen her friend before her death, saying: “I was sad, recently I didn’t see her before she passed.
“That was her choice, she didn’t want too many people down in the New Forest and I understand that.”
Hunniford also praised Dame Esther’s campaigning to legalise assisted dying in the UK.
She said: “There was never anybody like Esther and there probably never will be again. At 86, she was still fighting her best.
“I’m sure had she been spared another six months or a year, she would have continued to fight for assisted dying.”
The Society of Editors, who honoured Dame Esther with the outstanding contribution to journalism award in 2023, hailed her as “one of the most important and influential broadcasters and campaigners”.
Dawn Alford, the chief executive of the organisation, said: “Not only did she dedicate her career to supporting and giving a voice to some of the most vulnerable in society, she understood the power of television and journalism not simply to entertain, but to ask difficult questions, expose wrongdoing and give a voice to people who might otherwise have gone unheard.”
Dame Esther was also an ambassador for the British Heart Foundation.
Dr Charmaine Griffiths, chief executive of the organisation, said: “After losing her beloved husband Desmond Wilcox to heart disease in 2000, Esther turned her own experience of grief into a determination to help others.
“She gave her time, energy and voice to us for many years, helping raise awareness of heart disease and supporting the search for better treatments and cures through research.
“She took the time to meet BHF-funded researchers in their labs, learn about their work and champion the hope that research brings to people and families affected by cardiovascular disease.”
BBC director-general Matt Brittin said her “contribution to the BBC and public life was immeasurable”.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said Dame Esther had “changed countless lives and gave a voice to people who often went unheard”.
