Esther Rantzen

Awards & Honours

Awards Won

Honours

Covers

Records

Dame Esther Rantzen stands as a titan of British broadcasting and a beacon of humanitarian work. Her creation of Childline in 1986 revolutionized how society supports vulnerable children, creating a lifeline that has helped millions. Her appointment as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 2015 recognized a lifetime of service that transcended the entertainment industry. She is one of the few individuals to successfully transition from a prime-time television presenter to a globally respected advocate for social change.

AwardsDame Esther Rantzen has received numerous accolades for her contributions to broadcasting and charity. She was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1991 and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2006. In 2015, she was created a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). She has also received multiple lifetime achievement awards from the Royal Television Society and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Reading and the University of Hertfordshire.

Honours & Distinctions

Officer of the Order of the British Empire

British Honours System·1991

Awarded for services to children.

Commander of the Order of the British Empire

British Honours System·2006

Awarded for services to children and the community.

Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire

British Honours System·2015

Knight/Damehood for services to charity and society.

Honorary Doctorate

University of Reading·2000

Doctor of Letters for services to broadcasting and charity.

Honorary Doctorate

University of Hertfordshire·2010

Doctor of Laws for services to society.

Magazine Covers

Vogue

October 1986

The Face of Childline

The Observer

December 2015

A Life in Service

Records & Feats

Longest-running presenter of That's Life!

Career Milestone·1994

Hosted the ITV magazine programme for 21 consecutive years, setting a record for longevity in British daytime television.

First National Helpline for Children

Charity Milestone·1986

Founded Childline in 1986, creating the first national telephone helpline specifically for children in the UK.