Dame Esther Rantzen DBE | RTS London Christmas Lecture 2021

RTS London Podcast

Virtual Christmas Lecture by Dame Esther Rantzen DBE followed by Q&A hosted by Paul Jackson.

Dame Esther Rantzen is a legend of British broadcasting and became a household name appearing in more than 2,000 TV programmes including documentaries, talk shows, reality shows and quizzes; most notably presenting the BBC’s “That's Life!” for 21 years, from 1973 until 1994.

A creative producer as well as a presenter, she invented the documentary series "The Big Time" which discovered Sheena Easton, created the "Children of Courage" segment of "Children in Need" and invented "Hearts of Gold" which ran for seven years, honouring unsung heroes and heroines.

She is a regular contributor to "The One Show", political and news programmes on many different topics especially those relating to broadcasting, growing old ungracefully, and to the abuse of children and older people. She writes for newspapers and magazines and is the author of five books including a history of Childline, and one novel.

Dame Esther has been recognised for her contribution to television and society. She was awarded an OBE for services to broadcasting in 1991, a CBE for services to children in 2006, and in the 2015 New Year Honours, was made a Dame for services to children and older people through Childline and The Silver Line.

She’s played Dick Whittington in Bognor and rather rashly took part in "Strictly", "First Dates" and "I'm a Celebrity". Now Dame Esther has agreed to give the RTS London Christmas Lecture.

Producer: Philip Barnes