Rantzen felt 'deprived of choice' over her own death

Dame Esther Rantzen, the 86-year-old broadcaster and campaigner, expressed in a posthumous note that she felt "deprived of any choice over my own death." The message, published after her passing, was released alongside confirmation that she had been laid to rest in an "incredibly beautiful" private funeral last week. Rantzen, who died at her home in the New Forest, Hampshire, on 30 September, had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023. A larger memorial service is expected to be held at a later date. Rantzen's daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, said the family had received numerous messages of condolence since her death. "It's been hugely comforting to know that people around the world felt the same way about her as we did," she said. In her note, Rantzen addressed the issue of assisted dying, stating that if the law had allowed her to request assistance to die when her life had become unbearable, it would have "transformed the way I died." She acknowledged the support she received from her local Oakhaven Hospice but noted that the existing criminal law had still deprived her of any choice over her death. Rantzen also mentioned that she had become too physically frail to travel to an assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. In her message, she addressed opponents of the assisted dying legislation, saying, "Rest assured I will not come back to haunt you, I have better things to do." She emphasized that "nobody wants to shorten life, just to shorten death." Rantzen had been a prominent advocate for assisted dying in her later years, despite the rejection of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill by MPs in September. She expressed sadness that the law would not change soon enough for those in need. Although aware that the bill would not have been enacted in time for her, she urged continued efforts for reform. Rantzen's family requested that instead of flowers, donations be made to Oakhaven Hospice, Childline, The Silver Line, and Cats Protection in her memory. Her legacy includes founding Childline in 1986 and establishing The Silver Line helpline for older people. She also presented the television programme That's Life! for 21 years. Arthur Stickland, a long-time member of the Bramshaw Cricket Club, recalled Rantzen's involvement with the club, noting that she often attended matches and interacted with fans as if she were one of them. He described her as "an ordinary person" who was well-known in the village but remained approachable and unpretentious. Rantzen's influence extended beyond her work in media and charity. Her advocacy for assisted dying highlighted the ongoing debate surrounding end-of-life choices in the UK. As her family prepares for a larger memorial service, her message continues to resonate with those who support the movement for legal reform.