DAME Esther Rantzen smiled alongside her family at her 85th birthday celebration, in a touching final public glimpse of the beloved TV legend.
The sad news of the “adored” mother’s death was confirmed today in a touching tribute from her heartbroken family who said she was their “sunshine”.
Dame Esther had confirmed she was undergoing treatment for stage four lung cancer in May 2023.
In June, Dame Esther was pictured smiling alongside her daughters in a butter yellow blazer and sun dress as they marked her birthday.
These would be the last public photos of the beloved That’s life presenter.
In a statement from her children Miriam Wilcox, Rebecca Wilcox and Joshua Wilcox confirming her tragic passing, they said: “Our adored mother, Dame Esther Rantzen, died today.
“Her legacy of compassion and understanding will live on in her charities Childline and the Silverline, and through those of us who were lucky enough to love and be loved by her.
“We are grateful she is finally at rest with her beloved husband, Desmond Wilcox, but we will miss her immeasurably. She was our sunshine.
“We will always remember her endless capacity for joy, her ability to comfort every heartache, her beautiful way with words and her expert guidance in all things.
“She was the most wonderful mother to us three children and a cherished grandmother to her five treasured grandchildren.
“We have been so lucky for so long, no matter how much time we had with Mum it could be never be enough, but we are so grateful for our lives together.
“Mum’s work with charities and campaigning, particularly for children, older people, and the terminally ill, meant the world to her so thank you to everyone who has written to her, shared their stories with her over the years and worked alongside her.
“We hope the humour, ingenuity and audacity she brought to her work may continue to inspire you as it will do us. We kindly ask that we are given privacy and time to grieve.”
After revealing her cancer diagnosis, she told how.
She had pledged to travel to the clinic when she was ready to end her life, but later became “too physically fragile to make the journey”.
