Esther Rantzen facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Esther Rantzen
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Rantzen in 2022
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| Born |
Esther Louise Rantzen
22 June 1940 Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England
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| Education |
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| Alma mater | Somerville College, Oxford |
| Occupation |
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| Years active | 1968–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Desmond Wilcox
(m. 1977; died 2000) |
| Children | 3, including Rebecca |
Dame Esther Louise Rantzen (born 22 June 1940) is a famous English journalist and television presenter. She is best known for hosting the BBC show That's Life! for 21 years, from 1973 to 1994. Esther Rantzen has also done a lot of work for charity. She started two important charities: Childline, a helpline for children, which began in 1986, and The Silver Line, which helps older people who feel lonely, started in 2012.
Esther Rantzen has received many awards for her work in television and for helping society. She was given an OBE in 1991 for her broadcasting work and a CBE in 2006 for helping children. In 2015, she was made a Dame for her amazing work with Childline and The Silver Line, helping both children and older people. She also supports many other charities.
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Early Life and Education
Esther Rantzen was born in Berkhamsted, England. Her parents were Katherine Flora Rantzen and Henry Barnato Rantzen, who was an electrical engineer. She has one younger sister named Priscilla.
Esther went to school in New York at Buckley Country Day School until 1950. Later, she attended North London Collegiate School, which is an independent school for girls in London. She then went on to study English at Somerville College, Oxford University. While at Oxford, she enjoyed performing in plays with different drama groups.
Television Career Highlights
Esther Rantzen started her career at BBC Radio as a trainee sound effects assistant. She soon moved into television, working as a researcher on different shows. In the mid-1960s, she worked on the documentary series Man Alive.
Becoming a Presenter
In 1968, Esther was a researcher for a show called Braden's Week. The producer decided to put the researchers on screen, and that's how Esther became a presenter! When the host of Braden's Week left in 1972, the BBC created a new show called That's Life! and Esther Rantzen became its main presenter.
That's Life! and Its Impact
That's Life! was a very popular show on BBC1, running for 21 years from 1973 to 1994. It was watched by over 18 million people! The show started as a consumer program, helping people with problems like faulty products. But it grew to cover very important issues, like campaigning for more organ donors. One memorable story was about Ben Hardwick, a two-year-old who needed a liver transplant.
The show also helped expose serious problems at a boarding school, leading to its closure and legal action against those responsible for harming students. To balance the serious topics, That's Life! also had funny parts, like reading amusing mistakes sent in by viewers. It also featured funny songs by artists like Victoria Wood.
In 1976, Esther created another show called The Big Time, which helped launch the singing career of Sheena Easton.
Founding Childline
One of the biggest impacts of That's Life! was the creation of Childline in 1986. This was the first national helpline for children who were in danger or feeling upset. Esther Rantzen got the idea after a program called Childwatch, which looked into ways to help children at risk.
After that program, Esther suggested the BBC open a helpline for children for just 48 hours. It was flooded with calls from children who needed help. This showed Esther that a permanent helpline was desperately needed. Even though some experts thought it would be too hard to create, Esther and her team found funding and support from organizations like the Department of Health and BT.
Childline officially launched on 30 October 1986 with a special jingle and a free phone number (0800 1111). On that first night, 50,000 calls tried to get through! Today, Childline has many centers across the UK and helps millions of children each year. In 2006, Childline joined with the NSPCC to help even more children. Many other countries have copied the Childline idea.
Creating The Silver Line
In 2013, Esther Rantzen started another charity called The Silver Line. This charity helps older people by fighting loneliness and isolation. It offers a free, private helpline where older people can get information and advice. The Silver Line also has a befriending service, where trained volunteers call older people regularly for a friendly chat. This charity has now joined with AgeUK.
Later Television Work
In 1988, Esther created a BBC One show called Hearts of Gold. This program celebrated people who had done incredibly kind or brave things without seeking attention. It was very popular.
After That's Life! ended in 1994, Esther hosted her own talk show called Esther on BBC Two until 2002. In 2004, she was a contestant on the second series of the celebrity dance competition Strictly Come Dancing. She danced with Anton Du Beke and was the third couple to leave the show.
Esther has also made documentaries, including Winton's Children, about Sir Nicholas Winton. He was a hero who rescued many Czech children from danger during World War II. After her husband, Desmond Wilcox, passed away, Esther made a program about caring for people who are very ill, called How to Have a Good Death. She has also worked to raise awareness about ME/CFS, a condition that causes extreme tiredness, as her older daughter has this condition.
In 2018, she presented a new show on Channel 5 called Esther Rantzen’s House Trap. This show used hidden cameras to help older people avoid dishonest traders who might try to trick them.
Political Involvement
In 2009, Esther Rantzen decided to run for Parliament as an independent candidate in the area of Luton South. She made this decision because of a scandal involving politicians' expenses. Although she didn't win the election in May 2010, she showed that she cared deeply about public issues.
In 2014, Esther was one of many public figures who signed a letter hoping that Scotland would vote to stay part of the United Kingdom in their independence vote.
Personal Life
Esther Rantzen married Desmond Wilcox in December 1977. Desmond was also a talented filmmaker who made many award-winning documentaries. They had three children: Miriam (born 1978), Rebecca (born 1980), and Joshua (born 1981). Desmond passed away in 2000.
In January 2023, Esther Rantzen shared that she had been diagnosed with lung cancer. She has been open about her health journey, saying she remains optimistic thanks to new treatments. In May 2023, she announced her cancer had reached stage IV. In December 2023, she shared that she had joined the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. She lives in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Honours and Awards
Esther Rantzen has received many important awards for her work:
- She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 for her work in broadcasting.
- She became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006 for her services to children and young people.
- She was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 2015 for her services to children and older people through Childline and The Silver Line.
She has also won many professional awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from Women in Film and Television. The Royal Television Society gave her a Special Judges' Award for Journalism and made her a Fellow. She was the first woman to receive a Dimbleby Award from BAFTA for presenting factual programs. She also received the Snowdon Award for helping disabled people.
Coat of Arms
On 31 May 2018, Esther Rantzen was granted her own coat of arms. This special design represents her and her family.
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