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Evening Standard
· collected 2026-10-07 · by Y. Ellie Ng
Rebecca Wilcox, daughter of Dame Esther Rantzen, spoke at a Childline 40th anniversary event about her mother's deep commitment to the charity. She noted that Childline was like a "favourite sibling" in her family due to its importance to Rantzen. Geri Halliwell-Horner, a Childline ambassador, highlighted Rantzen’s founding of Childline after a temporary helpline for abused children received overwhelming responses and praised Rantzen's tireless work on the charity’s behalf. NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood called Rantzen “unique, inspiring and truly remarkable” for her dedication to helping children in need.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-07,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Wednesday, guests gathered at an event marking Childline's 40th anniversary. Rebecca Wilcox, the daughter of Dame Esther Rantzen, said that Childline was her mother’s favorite project, noting it had "supernatural powers." NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood described Dame Esther as a "unique, inspiring and truly remarkable woman" who dedicated significant time to ensuring children could seek help. The charity has provided over 6 million counselling sessions since its inception in 1986. While sexual abuse was the top concern back then (27% of calls), mental and emotional health issues are now the leading reason for contact (33% of sessions in 2025/26). The charity also noted that AI, social media, and the impact of Covid-19 have influenced recent conversations with young people.
Written for “Esther Rantzens Childline Legacy” on 2026-10-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Childline was Dame Esther Rantzen’s favourite child, the broadcaster’s daughter has said as guests gathered to mark the charity’s 40th anniversary.
asserted
guests → say → anniversary
Rebecca Wilcox, Dame Esther’s daughter, said she realised her mother loved Childline more than her and her siblings “from day one”.
asserted
mother → say → day
“Childline was the favoured sibling,” she said.
asserted
she → say → ?
“We always knew that, and now I know why.
asserted
I → know → that
“Childline has supernatural powers and it’s because you go there and you think you know what it is, you suddenly see what it is and it’s like a love spell.
asserted
it → have → spell
She added: “I knew there was a reason mum made me get on the train today and it was to see you all because I need to be reminded that there’s good in the world and this room is flipping full of it.”
asserted
room → add → it
Ms Wilcox said children were her mother’s “favourite people”.
asserted
children → say → ?
Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner, a Childline ambassador, told the event that Dame Esther had “worked tirelessly to found Childline 40 years ago” and “would want us to honour her work” by ensuring it carries on.
asserted
it → tell → work
Dame Esther, who spent 21 years fronting BBC consumer affairs show That’s Life!, founded Childline – to provide counselling for young people – after a temporary helpline for viewers affected by a programme about a toddler who had starved to death was swamped with callers.
asserted
who → spend → callers
The calls mainly came from children suffering sexual abuse they had never been able to disclose to anyone else, giving Dame Esther the idea for a specific helpline for children, open 24/7 throughout the year.
Halliwell-Horner, addressing guests at the event ahead of Childline’s official 40th anniversary on October 30, said: “Of course, there’s no way to discuss the incredible work of Childline without mentioning the inspirational Dame Esther Rantzen, who worked tirelessly to found Childline 40 years ago.
“I first met Esther following the death of my dear friend George Michael in 2016.
asserted
I → come → 2016
After George died, it was Esther who told me how much he had donated to the charity over the years and it blew me away.
asserted
it → die → me
Read More
“I wanted to continue George’s legacy and, after an encouraging conversation with Esther, approached the charity and soon became a Childline ambassador.
asserted
I → read → charity
I’m proud to have had the opportunity to work with volunteers and colleagues who help hundreds of thousands of children in need each year
asserted
who → ’m → need
“I’ve been very fortunate to be friends with Esther for a decade, and I know how proud she was of Childline.
asserted
she → know → Childline
I think it is so important that we work to continue her legacy.
“Children and young people need us more than ever and I know Esther would want us to honour her work and continue the vital, important work that Childline does.”
NSPCC chief executive Chris Sherwood described Dame Esther as a “unique, inspiring and truly remarkable woman” who had “dedicated so much of her time and energy to ensuring there was always somewhere to turn and someone to talk to for children in need of help”.
He said Wednesday’s event was an opportunity for people to come together “to pay their own tribute to Esther, look back over the last 40 years and look forward to the next decade and beyond for the service”.
Childline, now part of the NSPCC children’s charity, has delivered more than six million counselling sessions.
In 1986, the top concern that Childline counselled children about was sexual abuse (27% of calls and letters), but the biggest reason young people contact now – including through its online chat service – is mental and emotional health (33% of counselling sessions in 2025/26).
The charity also noted that artificial intelligence, social media and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic had all been mentioned in contacts in recent years.
asserted
intelligence → think → years
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