Dame Esther Rantzen has passed away at the age of 86 after a battle with lung cancer.

A pioneering journalist and broadcaster who fronted the BBC series ‘That’s Life!’ for 21 years and also launched the charity ChildLine, Dame Esther revealed her diagnosis in January 2023, before announcing in May of that year the the cancer had reached stage four and that she was on a new “miracle” form of medication.

Camilla Tominey spoke to Dame Esther - one of her heroes - in May 2024, in a wide-ranging interview taking in her broadcasting career, her illness and her views on assisted dying, and in a special edition of The Daily T we’re delighted to bring that to you in full today.

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Remembering Esther Rantzen: Her last full Telegraph interview

The Daily T

Remembering Esther Rantzen: Her last full Telegraph interview