Dame Esther Rantzen’s LGBTQ+ advocacy as she dies aged 86
Dame Esther Rantzen has died aged 86 (Getty Images)
Broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86.
A spokesperson confirmed to Sky News that she died at home in the New Forest, surrounded by her family on 30 September.
Rantzen is best known for presenting BBC series That’s Life! between 1973 and 1994. She received an OBE for services to broadcasting in 1991, a CBE in 2006 for services to children, and was made a Dame for services to children and older people in the 2015 New Year Honours.
Throughout her career, she founded charities Childline and The Silver line, to provide support for both young and old.
And she provided a safe space for LGBTQ+ with her charity work, as well as her broadcasting career.
Coming out
On 4 November, 1996, Rantzen hosted an episode of her show Esther about coming out.
It came just four years after same-sex attraction was declassified as a mental illness by the World Health Organisation, four years before the ban on lesbians, gay men and bisexual people serving in the armed forces was lifted, when the age of consent was still not the same as it was for straight people, and before Section 28 was repealed in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
During the show, Rantzen spoke to Right Said Fred singer Richard Fairbass, who spoke of his coming out journey.
She also spoke to radio presenter Peter Price, who acknowledged his own painful experience of coming out.
Early trans representation
During the 1980s, long before trans people became a political punching bag but when the topic was still deemed taboo, Rantzen interviewed some transgender people.
The programme also featured Janett Scott, the former president of transgender support group Beaumont Society.
Rantzen and the show have been credited for bringing visibility to trans issues in a time when they were virtually invisible.
Rona Rees, who has appeared on BBC Radio Cymru, has said seeing it was a “eureka” moment for her, prompting her to get in touch with the Beaumont Society and start her transition.
Years later, in 2018, Rantzen presented a national citizenship award to a transgender volunteer, Ben Whelan, whose work in Leamington was branded “inspirational”.
Childline
Dame Esther Rantzen launched Childline in 1986, off the back of her show That’s Life!, the first national helpline in the UK for children in danger or distress.
The helpline also supports young people who are struggling with their sexual or gender identity, with their gender identity pages launching in 2015.
In June 2019, the helpline revealed it had received 6,014 calls during the previous year from young people about sexuality or gender identity, averaging 16 calls every day.
Ranzten said at the time: “I’ve met young people who were desperately unhappy because they couldn’t talk to anyone about issues regarding their sexuality or gender, and often turn to Childline because they fear they’d lose their friends and be rejected by their families if they disclosed their feelings to them.
“I’m glad that they felt able to talk to Childline and reveal their feelings without being judged or stigmatised.”
She went on: “If we create a taboo around them, that can make children feel guilty, rejected and in some cases has even led to depression and even suicide.
“We all need to listen sensitively and support young people and protect them from this profound unhappiness and loneliness.”
In June 2026, the NSPCC, which runs Childline, said it had delivered 2,457 counselling sessions to children and young people with concerns relating to their sexuality or gender identity, with 43 per cent being about coming out.
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