The late Dame Esther Rantzen had a legendary broadcasting career, and there’s one moment that has stood out over the years.
The TV personality and well-known philanthropist who founded Childline died aged 86, three years after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer, after which she became a spokesperson for the assisted dying bill.
Since her death, her wide-ranging TV career has been fondly remembered by fans, including her career-making time as the face of the BBC series That’s Life! from 1973 to 1994.
It was during her two decades on this satirical consumer affairs show that she carved out several memorable moments. None more so than during a 1988 episode.
During the clip in question, which has gone viral regularly over the years, Dame Esther helps introduce viewers to audience member Nicholas Winton (who was knighted in 2003).
Sir Winton is known for organising the rescue of 669 children from Czechoslovakia – the vast majority of whom were Jewish – following the Nazi occupation in 1939.
He conducted a mammoth and dangerous coordination effort to rehome these children in the UK, which was accepting young refugees at this time.
During this episode of That’s Life!, several of these children were contacted as adults and told that it was Sir Winton who was behind their life-saving escape.
As Dame Esther explained during the tearful segment: ‘We asked as many as possible of these grown-up children to get in touch with us so they’d have the chance to thank Mr Winton personally.’
She then addressed the live studio audience, where Sir Winton was sat front row: ‘Can I ask, is there anyone in our audience tonight who owes their life to Nicholas Winton. If so, could you stand up please.’
As several rows of people stood up, Dame Esther encouraged him to ‘turn around’ and see the true impact of his heroic actions all those years ago.
‘You’ll have a chance to meet all these people properly after the programme. In the meantime, Mr Winton, on behalf of all of them, thank you very much indeed.’
Sir Winton was then showered in applause.
Reflecting on why she wanted to bring him onto the show years later to the Radio Times, she said that she had discovered he was disappointed he had not been able to save more children.
‘I was devastated that he felt he had failed. I wanted to prove to this extraordinary man that every life he had saved was precious,’ she explained.
Following Dame Esther’s death, a heartfelt letter she wrote was released to the public.
The posthumous message from the I’m A Celebrity star read: ‘I am so sorry I cannot send you each individual thanks for the fun, the support and the help you have been to me.
‘I have been immensely lucky in the friendship and the professional advice I have had from you, which has enabled me to live such a long and happy life.
‘Sadly, all good things come to an end, as they say. So I particularly wanted to say goodbye and thank you so very, very much.
‘Perhaps I will see you eventually, on the other side. I do hope so.’
As an advocate for the legalisation of assisted dying, she shared it was a ‘tragic day’ when MPs rejected plans to legalise it for terminally ill adults.