Anton Du Beke honored the memory of broadcaster and campaigner Esther Rantzen following her death at age 86 from stage four lung cancer. He shared a tribute on social media highlighting their friendship since meeting on "Strictly Come Dancing" in 2004 and praising her as a mentor, advocate for women's rights, and founder of Childline. Other celebrities like Matt Allwright and Dame Elaine Paige also paid respects, emphasizing Rantzen’s revolutionary broadcasting career and her activism for children’s welfare and assisted dying legislation.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-30,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Dame Esther Rantzen, a prominent British broadcaster known for her work on That's Life! and founding Childline, died at age 86 after battling stage four lung cancer. Her family paid tribute to her as "the most wonderful mother" and a "cherished grandmother," praising her "endless capacity for joy." Rantzen became famous in the 1970s with That's Life!, a show she helped devise that tackled consumer issues and later expanded into investigating life-and-death matters. In 1986, she founded Childline, a helpline providing counseling services to children in distress, which has since helped millions of young people across Britain. More recently, Rantzen became an advocate for assisted dying after her cancer diagnosis, criticizing the current laws that criminalize helping terminally ill individuals with no cure. She died surrounded by family at her home in the New Forest on Wednesday. Tributes from celebrities and public figures highlighted her significant contributions to journalism and social causes, including Dame Elaine Paige and Lorraine Kelly, who praised Rantzen's work for children through Childline and later initiatives like The Silver Line aimed at reducing loneliness among older people. Despite her advocacy efforts, the proposed laws allowing assisted dying in England and Wales did not pass, with Rantzen describing it as a "tragic day." Her legacy is remembered as one of compassion and understanding, inspiring many to continue her mission of helping those in need.
Written for “Dame Esther Rantzen Dies Aged 86” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 15 other(s) covering the same event.
The broadcaster and campaigner has also been remembered by a host of celebrities following her death aged 86.
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broadcaster → remember → 86
The news was announced by her family in an emotional statement which praised Dame Esther as “the most wonderful mother” and a “cherished grandmother”.
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which → announce → mother
After being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023, she also became a prominent voice in the attempt to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales.
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she → diagnose → England
Du Beke, 60, paid tribute to Dame Esther with a carousel of images of them together through the years, along with a snap from their time on Strictly, where they were the third couple to be eliminated.
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they → pay → Strictly
The ballroom dancer wrote: “I’m deeply saddened to hear about the passing of the wonderful Esther Rantzen.
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I → write → Rantzen
“We first met when we partnered each other in the second series of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and remained firmed friends ever since.”
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we → meet → 2004
Du Beke, who made his debut on the BBC dancing competition alongside Dame Esther that year, continued: “I was also lucky enough to have the benefit of her wisdom as she became a valued mentor to me when I started out in television.
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I → make → television
“Esther had an extraordinary career – what an extraordinary woman and an extraordinary friend.
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Esther → have → career
“She will be greatly missed and my sincere thoughts are with her family.”
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thoughts → miss → family
“She founded Childline which alone would be quite the legacy.”
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which → found → Childline
Referencing her guest appearance on sitcom The Kumars at No 42, which Bhaskar co-created, co-wrote and starred in, the TV star also praised Dame Esther as “warm, self-deprecating and funny”.
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star → reference → Esther
TV presenter Matt Allwright joined the mourners with a lengthy message hailing Dame Esther as “extraordinary”, describing her broadcast career as “revolutionary” and writing about her “brave” and “kind” activism.
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Allwright → join → activism
The 56-year-old, who has hosted programmes including The One Show and Watchdog, added: “She used her powers to campaign until the end for those who didn’t have a voice.
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who → host → voice
The misled and deceived.
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The → mislead → ?
A titan who fought for a better version of the country we live in.
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we → fight → country
“A personal hero who changed my life, like so many others.
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who → change → others
We were lucky to have you on our side.”
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We → have → side
Dame Elaine Paige, famed for her West End roles in productions such as Evita and Cats, praised Dame Esther as “a great broadcaster, journalist and campaigner”.
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Paige → fame → broadcaster
The singer and actress said: “Her Childline, the confidential counselling service for young people in distress, helped so many children and The Silver Line was aimed at older people suffering loneliness and isolation.
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Line → say → loneliness
“Esther also fought to the end for assisted dying.
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Esther → fight → dying
Former TV presenter Anna Williamson, known for appearing on Celebs Go Dating, echoed the sentiments and described Dame Esther as “somebody truly iconic, who really cared, and who has left behind one hell of a legacy”.
Williamson, who has previously worked as a children’s TV presenter, also called Dame Esther an “inspiration” and said she felt compelled to become a spokeswoman, ambassador and counsellor for Childline after meeting its founder.
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she → know → founder
“I didn’t need much convincing.
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I → need → convincing
It was through Esther‘s passion that I took on the same crusade, wanting to help young people and joining her charity,” she wrote.
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she → take → charity
Scottish TV host Lorraine Kelly commented beneath an Instagram post announcing the news of Dame Esther’s death and said: “Sad news – a pioneer and a force of nature.
“Helped so many people – funny, forthright and fabulous.”
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Kelly → comment → people
Saltburn actor Richard E Grant posted broken heart emojis beneath an Instagram post about Dame Esther.
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Grant → post → Esther
Presenter Amol Rajan said Dame Esther “changed the course of millions of lives” as he paid tribute, calling her “an inspirational, strong woman ahead of her time”.
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he → say → time
“She was something like the on-air conscience of her generation, and often most admired by those who most disagreed with her.
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who → admire → her
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