Esther Rantzen says illness has left her too frail to travel for assisted dying
The broadcaster says deteriorating health after her terminal lung cancer diagnosis means she can no longer travel to a Swiss Dignitas clinic.
Esther Rantzen says she is now too physically fragile to travel to Switzerland for an assisted death she had planned at a Dignitas clinic.
The 86-year-old broadcaster said her quality of life had deteriorated since she was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer in 2023. She said she joined Dignitas, spent money and made plans, but did not realise that her earlier opportunity to travel would be her last.
Rantzen said she had been physically able to make the journey when her suffering was less severe. By the time, in her words, life became unbearable, she was too frail to travel and complete the Dignitas process.
Assisted dying remains illegal in the UK. Rantzen supports Kim Leadbeater’s bill, which is due for a second reading in parliament and would permit assisted dying in certain circumstances.
The bill progressed in a June 2025 Commons vote by 314 votes to 291. Supporters say it could provide a dignified death for eligible terminally ill people, while opponents have raised concerns about safeguards and the quality of palliative care.
Rantzen presented That’s Life! for 21 years and founded the youth support charity Childline.
