Dame Esther Rantzen, the BAFTA-winning British presenter known for programs such as That's Life!, died on September 30 at the age of 86.
Her children, Miriam Wilcox, Rebecca Wilcox, and Joshua Wilcox, confirmed their mother's passing in a statement released through the Press Association, in which they described her as their beloved mother.
Rantzen had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023 and, since then, became a prominent campaigner for the legalization of assisted dying in the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, lawmakers voted against the legislative proposal on this issue.
A television career spanning over two decades
Rantzen hosted the consumer advocacy program That's Life! for more than twenty years. One of the most remembered episodes of the BBC series was immortalized in the Anthony Hopkins film One Life, which recreated the reunion between humanitarian Nicholas Winton and the Jewish children he rescued from Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia. In that film, actress Samantha Spiro played Rantzen.
In 1988, Rantzen received the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby Award for best factual programming. She also participated as a contestant on Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!. In 2014, she was appointed a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of her career.
Her children’s statement
Rantzen's three children shared a lengthy message in which they remembered their mother's legacy of compassion and her work with the charities Childline and Silverline, both of which she founded.
In the statement, they highlighted that their mother is finally resting alongside her husband, Desmond Wilcox, and noted that they will miss her immensely. They described her as a wonderful mother to the three of them and a loving grandmother to her five grandchildren.
The children also thanked everyone who wrote to Rantzen and shared their stories with her over the years, especially regarding her work on behalf of children, the elderly, and the terminally ill. Finally, they requested privacy and time to mourn their loss.
Frequently asked questions about Dame Esther Rantzen
When did Dame Esther Rantzen die?
Dame Esther Rantzen died on September 30, 2026, at the age of 86, according to a statement confirmed by her children.
What was the cause of Esther Rantzen’s death?
Rantzen had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023. It has not been publicly specified that this illness was the direct cause of her death, although she lived with it during the final years of her life.
For which television program did Esther Rantzen become famous?
Rantzen became famous for hosting the BBC consumer advocacy program That's Life! for more than two decades, one of the most iconic shows in British television.
What was Esther Rantzen’s connection to the film One Life?
An episode of That's Life! in which the program reunited humanitarian Nicholas Winton with Jewish children he had rescued during the Holocaust was recreated in the film One Life, starring Anthony Hopkins. Actress Samantha Spiro played Rantzen in that film.
What awards did Esther Rantzen receive throughout her career?
In 1988, she won the BAFTA Richard Dimbleby Award for best factual programming, and in 2014, she was appointed a Dame by Queen Elizabeth II.
What activist work did Esther Rantzen carry out?
Following her terminal cancer diagnosis in 2023, Rantzen became a prominent advocate for the legalization of assisted dying in the United Kingdom, a proposal that lawmakers rejected in early September 2026.
