Dame Esther Rantzen, first known for presenting the whimsical show That's Life, took up unfashionable causes and launched key charities promoting the welfare of young and old alike.
From Backroom to Front of Camera
She became widely known to viewers in That's Life, a programme that blended innuendo and comedic moments with hard-hitting campaigns. The programme, hosted by a young Dame Esther, would effortlessly skip from a mirthful item about strangely shaped vegetables to consumer issues or welfare scandals, with the young presenter surrounded by a supporting cast of men.
She had unexpectedly moved to the front of the camera after spending some of the 1960s in backroom roles.
Charity Work and Legacy
Her charity work left an undeniable legacy. A damehood was bestowed on Dame Esther following charity campaigns for young and old alike. The Silver Line helpline was aimed at combating loneliness for the elderly, a cause that Dame Esther felt strongly about.
However, her greatest achievement was Childline, giving abused children the chance to report their plight by picking up the phone. The campaign started in 1986 and Dame Esther remained involved until the end.
Television Career and Personal Life
That's Life was a show Dame Esther made her own with a supporting cast including Richard Stilgoe, who would sing ditties on the piano, while veteran performer Cyril Fletcher would host a segment featuring often innuendo-infused oddities viewers had sent in. Dame Esther was the undisputed star of the show, however, and would also venture out of the studio to do vox-pop segments.
She married well-known BBC presenter Desmond Wilcox, who became the father of her children. As well as her charity work, she would often appear to promote her charities or to take part in programmes like Strictly Come Dancing, I'm A Celebrity or Celebrity First Dates. She even tried running for Parliament in 2010 as an independent in Luton, but failed to win voters' approval.
Other TV ventures included Hearts Of Gold and The Big Time, which helped people see their dreams come true. She also brought to wide attention the work of Nicholas Winton, who had rescued many children from the clutches of the Nazis.
