Esther Rantzen's farewell message shared by her family

The family of Dame Esther Rantzen have revealed details of a farewell message written before she died, in which the 86-year-old said she felt "deprived of any choice over my own death". 

The broadcaster and campaigner, who founded Childline in 1986, died at her home on 30 September after being diagnosed with stage four lung cancer in 2023.

Her family confirmed they held a small, private funeral last week, which they described as "incredibly beautiful".

In her later years, Dame Esther became a strong proponent for assisted dying, and her family said she had left a "goodbye and thank you" note for all those who campaigned on the issue, urging them to "battle on".

The former That's Life! presenter wrote: "It would have transformed the way I died if the law had allowed me to ask for assistance to die when my life had become unbearable.

"Not because I would have used that choice. But because the last days and weeks would have been infused with the hope and confidence of a swift, pain-free death and my family would not have had to witness any suffering or lack of dignity and privacy at the end.

"I know from my own experience that witnessing those agonising moments can blot out all the memories of so many happy days spent with the people that you love.

"I was extremely lucky because I had the talent, skill and support of my local Oakhaven Hospice. But I was still deprived of any choice over my own death by the current messy criminal law."

'Goodbye and thank you'

Last month, the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill - which aimed to give terminally ill adults in the final six months of their life in England and Wales the ability to request assistance from a doctor to die - was rejected in parliament after 286 MPs voted against it, with 270 voting in favour.

In her note, Dame Esther, who explained she had been "too physically frail to take the flight" to an assisted dying clinic in Switzerland, said: "Now I am dead I am sorry that there is not much more I can do to speed it on its way for the sake of other future generations."

However, she paid tribute to those who had supported the assisted dying campaign, writing: "Goodbye and thank you to everyone who has taken an interest in this crucial life and death issue.

"To those who have opposed it and blocked the new Bill, rest assured I will not come back to haunt you, I have better things to do and anyway I believe you too have the right to choose, but not the right to impose your choice on the most vulnerable people such as dying frail little old ladies like me.

"To those who will battle on and continue to support the reform and especially patients and their loved ones who urgently need it, I will do everything I can from here to help you. After all, nobody wants to shorten life, just to shorten death."

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Dame Esther's daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, said the family had been inundated with sympathy messages since her death.

Ms Wilcox told the Press Association: "It's been hugely comforting to know that people around the world felt the same way about her as we did."

A larger memorial service for Dame Esther is expected to take place at a later date, with details yet to be announced.

Her family has asked that anyone wishing to honour her memory make donations to the charities Oakhaven Hospice, Childline, The Silver Line and Cats Protection.

(c) Sky News 2026: Esther Rantzen's farewell message shared by her family