Veteran broadcaster and campaigner Dame Esther Rantzen has died at the age of 86. The news was announced on Wednesday, with her family confirming she had been terminally ill with lung cancer.

Dame Esther was a household name in the UK for over two decades as the presenter and producer of the BBC show "That's Life!," which ran from 1973 to 1994 and regularly attracted an audience of 20 million viewers. The program was known for its blend of consumer investigations and lighter segments.

Beyond her television career, Dame Esther was a prolific charity founder. In 1986, she launched Childline, a crucial counselling service for children and young people in the UK. Later, in 2013, she established the Silver Line charity to combat loneliness and isolation among elderly people.

In the years leading up to her death, Dame Esther became a vocal advocate for the legalisation of assisted dying. She had revealed in January 2023 that she had been diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. Earlier this month, she stated in a message that she had made plans to travel to the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas but was too physically frail to make the journey, renewing her plea for the law to change.

Dame Esther began her broadcasting career at BBC radio, working as a sound effects assistant before moving into television research. By 1968, she had trained as a producer and director. She joined the consumer affairs programme "Braden's Week" as a researcher and reporter.

Her role on "That's Life!" propelled her to national prominence. The show tackled a wide range of issues, from consumer rights and child protection to organ transplants and international adoptions. One of its most memorable episodes in 1988 featured a reunion between Sir Nicholas Winton and Holocaust survivors he had rescued.

Dame Esther's family paid tribute to her "compassion" and expressed hope that her "humour, ingenuity and audacity" would continue to inspire others. Prime Minister Andy Burnham acknowledged her impact, stating that the broadcaster and campaigner had "changed countless lives."

Dame Esther's public life extended beyond her presenting and campaigning roles. She also participated in the popular BBC show "Strictly Come Dancing" and the dating program "First Dates" in later years, demonstrating her continued engagement with public life.