The key facts

  • Dame Esther Rantzen died on 30 September at her home in Bramshaw, New Forest, aged 86
  • In her posthumous note she wrote that she was 'denied any choice over her own death'
  • She was too physically weak to fly to a Swiss clinic; a private funeral has already taken place, with a memorial service expected later

Farewell message published after private funeral

The family of Dame Esther Rantzen has confirmed that the broadcaster and campaigner was laid to rest at an 'incredibly beautiful' private funeral last week. The message was accompanied by a farewell note written by Rantzen herself. The 86-year-old presenter, who founded Childline, died on 30 September at her home in Bramshaw, in the New Forest (Hampshire). As the BBC reported, a larger memorial service is expected later.

'Denied choice over my own death'

Rantzen, who was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023, had in recent years been a prominent advocate for the legalisation of assisted dying — in September, parliamentarians voted against its legalisation. In her note she wrote: 'It would have changed the way I died if the law had allowed me to ask for help to die when my life became unbearable.' She noted that she was 'incredibly lucky' thanks to the 'talent, skill and support' of the local Oakhaven hospice, but, in her words, 'the current muddled criminal law still denied me any choice over my own death.' Rantzen said she had become 'too physically weak to undertake the flight' to an assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. Addressing opponents of changing the law, she wrote: 'I assure you I will not come back to haunt you, I have better things to do,' and also noted: 'Nobody wants to shorten life — only death.'

Family's reaction and village tribute

Rantzen's daughter Rebecca Wilcox said that after her mother's death the family had been flooded with messages: 'It is a huge comfort to know that people all over the world felt about her the way we did.' Arthur Stickland, who had served on the Bramshaw cricket club committee for 60 years, said the That's Life! team had played annual matches against the village side for around seven or eight years. According to him, Rantzen, a former vice-president of the club, always came along with the show's presenters and staff, and he remembered her as 'an ordinary person': 'You wouldn't have noticed she was here. She just blended into the crowd.' In the village, he added, 'everyone knew who she was, and nobody bothered her.'

Legacy and charity

Rantzen presented That's Life! for 21 years, founded Childline in 1986, and later set up The Silver Line, a helpline for older people. The family asked that, in place of flowers, donations be directed to Oakhaven hospice, Childline, The Silver Line and the organisation Cats Protection.

Esther Rantzen appears in a recent picture. She is smiling and dressed in a blue jacket with a matching feather in her hair.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Dame Esther Rantzen died at her home in Bramshaw, in the New Forest, on 30 September

Esther Rantzen pictured at the BBC, 13th October 1971Head shot of Dame Esther Rantzen looking at the camera smiling. She's wearing a red coat, with pearl earrings and a matching pearl necklace, with green plants in the background.