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MPs Reject Assisted Dying Bill, Rantzen Calls It “Deeply Sad”

By Drooid · Oct 1, 2026, 3:46 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Esther Rantzen Dies

Dame Esther Rantzen died at age 86 on 30 September 2026.
She was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer in 2023 and disclosed the illness publicly.
She became a leading voice for assisted-dying legalization after joining Dignitas in 2023.
In September 2026 she said she was too physically fragile to travel to Switzerland for assisted death.
MPs rejected the Assisted Dying Bill in September 2026, which she described as “deeply sad”.

Summary

Esther Rantzen Campaigns

Esther Rantzen ran as an independent candidate in the 2009 parliamentary election, finishing fourth with 4.4% of the vote.
She appeared on the reality series I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! in 2008, becoming fifth contestant evicted.
She served as a British Heart Foundation ambassador, meeting researchers and promoting cardiovascular research.
She helped raise funds for the Minstead Trust by hosting a July 2021 garden party at Furzey Gardens.

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Esther Rantzen Dies

Dame Esther Rantzen died at age 86 on 30 September 2026.
She was diagnosed with stage-four lung cancer in 2023 and disclosed the illness publicly.
She became a leading voice for assisted-dying legalization after joining Dignitas in 2023.
In September 2026 she said she was too physically fragile to travel to Switzerland for assisted death.
MPs rejected the Assisted Dying Bill in September 2026, which she described as “deeply sad”.

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