Last Updated on October 1, 2026
Dame Esther Rantzen, the first host of the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, has died at the age of 86. The acclaimed television presenter, founder of Childline and The Silver Line, died on 30th September 2026 after living with advanced lung cancer and spending her final years campaigning on issues affecting vulnerable people.
While she was best known to the public as the long-serving host of the BBC's That's Life! Dame Esther also left a significant legacy within the social care sector through her extensive charitable and campaigning work. Care Management Matters (CMM) will always be grateful for Dame Esther's association with the Markel 3rd Sector Care Awards, which she hosted between 2014 and 2020, helping to establish them for the future.
The Awards, created by CMM in 2014 to celebrate excellence, innovation and dedication across the not-for-profit care and support sector, became closely linked with Dame Esther's lifelong commitment to giving a voice to people who were often overlooked.
In recognition of her campaigning spirit, CMM created the Dame Esther Rantzen Campaigning for Change Award in 2025, honouring individuals and organisations that raise awareness of important issues and drive meaningful social change.
Over the years, the Award has recognised campaigns tackling inequality, promoting independence and improving support for vulnerable communities, causes that closely reflected Dame Esther's own life's work.
These values were evident throughout a career that stretched across six decades. After becoming a household name through That's Life! Dame Esther used her public profile to launch Childline in 1986, creating the UK's first national helpline for children in distress.
She later founded The Silver Line, a charity dedicated to combating loneliness among older people. Her efforts earned widespread recognition, including a Damehood for services to children and older people.
Even after being diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer in 2023, Dame Esther remained an active campaigner. She became one of the country's most prominent advocates for assisted dying legislation, speaking openly about her illness and encouraging public debate around end-of-life choice and dignity.
Commenting on the announcement of Dame Esther's death, Lisa Werthmann, Director at CMM, said, 'Everyone at CMM is deeply saddened by the passing of Dame Esther Rantzen and we share our most sincere condolences with Dame Esther's family. She was so kind and supportive in the early years of the Awards and helped to develop the interview style of presentation continues to put winners at ease today.
'Dame Esther's legacy will continue to inspire a new generation of campaigners, carers and community leaders. Her name will remain permanently associated with the celebration of compassion, advocacy and social impact, ensuring that her influence endures long after her death.'