The family of Dame Esther Rantzen yesterday (Wednesday, September 30) announced that the veteran broadcaster had died at the age of 86 after a battle with cancer.
Rantzen was born in Berkhamsted on June 22, 1940, and after school studied English at Oxford University where she performed with the Oxford University Dramatic Society and the Oxford Theatre Group, the latter of whom took a show to Edinburgh.
She joined the BBC as a trainee sound effects, before becoming a researcher for a number of shows including Braden's Week where she had her first experience appearing in front of the camera.
Her life was to change in 1973 when she was chosen to front a new series called That’s Life! which would become one of the most-watched shows on British television and run on the BBC for 21 years.
Rantzen had a passion for charitable causes and founded Childline, a helpline for children, in 1986, followed by The Silver Line, designed to combat loneliness amongst the elderly, in 2012. She remained President of Childline until her death.
Later in her career she won a whole new army of fans by appearing on reality shows Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!
Following being awarded an OBE and a CBE, she became a Dame in the 2015 New Year Honours List.
In her final years, following a diagnosis of terminal cancer, Rantzen worked closely with the organisation Dignity in Dying to campaign for the legalisation of assisted dying.
Here are 11 memorable quotes from the tireless presenter and campaigner.
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5. Esther Rantzen on...assisted dying
"Don't try and sabotage democracy. Give us all the choice that you would want yourself. And then we can die in dignity, pain-free, and leave our families and our loved ones with happy memories. That's all we ask." | Getty Images
6. Esther Rantzen on...knowing your mind
“When I was getting vox pops for 'That’s Life!' I always used to seek out people of 60-plus, because they knew what they thought and didn’t care who agreed with them.” | Getty Images
8. Esther Rantzen on...abusers
"Paedophiles have a disguise. Monsters don't get near children, nice men do. That's the mask they have to wear in order to get to kids." | Getty Images