Childline Liverpool staff 'deeply saddened' by death of Esther Rantzen

A manager at Childline Liverpool has paid tribute to the charity's "wonderful" founder Dame Esther Rantzen.

Dame Esther, who presented BBC One's show That's Life! for 21 years and launched the charity counselling service for young people 40 years ago, died on Wednesday at the age of 86.

Dame Esther hosted and produced the programme from 1973 to 1994 which regularly attracted 20m viewers for its mix of serious consumer investigations and light-hearted items.

Marian Blackburn, a team leader at Childline Liverpool, said the star was "kind, compassionate and formidable" and everyone was "deeply saddened" at the news.

Dame Esther launched Childline in 1986 and in 2013 set up Silver Line to help elderly people suffering from isolation and loneliness.

Later in life, she became a prominent campaigner for the legalisation of assisted dying.

The broadcaster had been terminally ill with lung cancer.

She revealed her cancer diagnosis in 2023 saying the news had prompted her to express "profound thanks to everyone who has made my life so joyful".

Marian told BBC Radio Merseyside Dame Esther was a "wonderful woman".

"Everyone here at Childline Liverpool had met her, so we were deeply saddened to hear of her passing and sent our condolences to her family and loved ones."

She said the 24-hour service continued despite the heartbreaking news.

"When the news broke about Esther last night, there was a sense of sadness around the country and in Liverpool," she said.

"But we know that what Esther would have wanted is for us to carry on and to be there for children and young people when they need us most."

She said Dame Esther had left a "huge legacy" through a service that has supported children for 40 years.

"We've helped and spoken to six million children," she said.

"That's six million children that wouldn't have had a space to come and to share their concerns, their worries, their fears, without Esther's vision, tenacity and determination."

Prime Minister Andy Burnham was among those who paid tributes to Dame Esther, saying she had "changed countless lives".

He wrote on X: "I will always admire the characteristic courage and openness with which she spoke about her illness, making us all think about the difficult questions we face at the end of life," he wrote.

"My thoughts are with her family and all who loved her."

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