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Broadcaster and Childline Founder Dame Esther Rantzen Has Died Aged 86
- Broadcaster and Childline founder Dame Esther Rantzen has died aged 86 following a lung cancer diagnosis. Known for hosting a BBC consumer affairs show for 21 years, she was a prominent campaigner for children and older people.
- Alongside her television work, Dame Esther founded Childline in 1986 and The Silver Line in 2013 to support vulnerable children and elderly people. Queen Elizabeth made her a DBE in 2015 for her extensive charity services.
- In a statement, her family paid tribute to the "most wonderful mother" and "cherished grandmother" who will be remembered for her "endless capacity for joy." She is survived by three children: Rebecca, Miriam, and Joshua Wilcox, and five grandchildren.
- During her lung cancer diagnosis, Dame Esther became a prominent voice for assisted dying, joining Dignitas in December 2023. She stated: "I think it's important that the law catches up with what the country wants."
- In September 2026, ahead of a Parliament vote on assisted dying, Dame Esther became too physically fragile to travel. She branded the Bill's defeat a "tragic day," expressing anguish at loved ones witnessing her suffering during end-of-life care.
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British broadcaster and campaigner Esther Rantzen dies at 86 – WTOP News
LONSON (AP) — Esther Rantzen, the British broadcaster and campaigner who became a prominent voice in the recent attempt to get assisted dying legalized in the U.K., has died. She was 86. In a statement, her three children said their “adored mother” died on Wednesday. “We will always remember her endless capacity for joy, her...
·Chevy Chase, United States
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Oxford MailReposted by 
thisisoxfordshire.co.uk
thisisoxfordshire.co.ukFamily pay tribute as Dame Esther Rantzen dies aged 86
Broadcaster, campaigner and Oxford University graduate Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86, her family has said.
·Oxford, United Kingdom
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Total News Sources80
Leaning Left10Leaning Right4Center54Last UpdatedBias Distribution79% Center
Bias Distribution
- 79% of the sources are Center
79% Center
15%
C 79%
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