The daughter of Dame Esther Rantzen has issued a plea to the public and MPs to grant her mum’s birthday wish by supporting the assisted dying bill today
Esther Rantzen with her daughter Rebecca Wilcox – pictured in 2015 when Esther was made a Dame (Image: Steve Parsons – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter is urging the public and MPs to fulfil her mother’s birthday wish by backing the assisted dying bill ahead of Friday’s critical vote. This landmark decision comes just before the beloved TV presenter marks a milestone birthday that once seemed uncertain, as she will turn 85 on Sunday.
Speaking to The Express, Rebecca Wilcox, aged 45, made a heartfelt plea: “If the bill passes [Friday’s] vote, it will be an absolutely wonderful 85th birthday present for my mother and our family – and will give hope to thousands of terminally ill people today and for years to come. Please help to grant this wish for everyone in the future who would benefit from a more compassionate law by writing to your MP and reminding them that the majority of the public supports this crucial change. MPs, please listen to those you represent and give us choice over our deaths.”
The celebrated Dame Esther has recently shared the setback of her wonder cancer drug ceasing to work, yet remains hopeful with a new treatment underway.
Rebecca updated Sky News on her mother’s health this Wednesday, saying she was “coping” with the challenges. With a note of optimism, she said: “This has been a long slog and we’re hoping that we can maybe have a rest this weekend, particularly as it is her birthday on Sunday.
“We are so grateful and so appreciative of all the time that we have with her, particularly as she turns 85 looking rather fabulous.”
Rebecca is set to join a rally in Parliament Square on Friday morning, where supporters will gather to back the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill before its crucial third reading.
The outcome is anticipated to be tighter than the second reading in November, when MPs passed the bill with a 55-vote majority. Over 20 MPs have publicly signalled their intention to switch their votes, with the majority shifting away from the bill.
Broadcaster Rebecca expressed her confusion and uncertainty about how to feel as the vote nears, saying it’s “completely confusing and discombobulating to know which way we should be feeling about it.”
She continued: “We are really hopeful that we have the numbers. We obviously want people to keep writing to their MP, saying that they support the bill, because we know that nationally the numbers are with us.
“When every county has been polled, the majority do want a change to the law – the majority do want an assisted dying law that is safe, that respects end-of-life care, that has dignity for those who are dying.”
GMB: Esther Rantzen shares her views on assisted dying
In December 2023, Dame Esther, the founder of Childline, revealed that she had registered with Dignitas after being diagnosed with terminal lung cancer.
The dedicated activist stated she did not wish for her family to retain distressing memories of her life’s end because “that memory obliterates all the happy times.”
Her frank remarks struck a chord with millions across Britain, leading her to become an unexpected champion for a renewed campaign to legalise assisted dying – a movement supported by the Express’s Give Us Our Last Rights initiative.
Rebecca spoke highly of the bill put forward by Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, calling it a “really clever, safe piece of law that will stop the cruel status quo that exists at the moment”.
She emphasised that her mother is no longer advocating for her own right to medically assisted death, but for the benefit of others who will face similar circumstances in the future.
She explained: “This bill was never going to be something that would come into effect to help my family. This is for everybody out there in the future.”
Rebecca also countered the “scaremongering” critics who have been disseminating false information about the bill’s reach and the implications of amending the legislation.
When questioned on whether the legalisation of assisted dying might alter perceptions of suicide, especially among those with mental health challenges, she shared: “I have had my own mental health struggles. I would never want somebody at their lowest ebb to think that this bill is corroborating suicide. It isn’t.
“All it is doing is shortening death. You are already dying – it is those last few days, those last few hours – and it gives the patient some ease. It is not saying, ‘We as a country think suicide is an admirable thing or a viable response to whatever it is you’re going through.’
“It’s saying, ‘You’re dying, palliative care is no longer helping, drugs are no longer helping, this is the only thing that will ease your suffering – this is the humane, dignified choice that you are being offered at the end of your life.’”
Rebecca, who acts as deputy president for Childline, contemplated the potential outcome if the bill does not pass on Friday. She recognised that this would be an “absolutely fair process” and a reflection of “democracy in action.”
She said: “I have appreciated every single moment that I have had the privilege to be part of this campaign, to witness the fantastic MPs in Parliament standing up on both sides of the debate and giving such impassioned and careful, calm reasons for why they believe one way or the other.
“If this doesn’t go the way I really want it to go on Friday, I’m not giving up. Thousands of people out there are going through things my mother is going through right now.
“There is no way I can give up – it’s not something I think is available to me, as much as I would love to have some time off.”
The issue of legalising assisted dying often gains attention in Parliament, and it has been revisited every couple of decades.
Reflecting on a continued push for change, Rebecca said: “I’ll be a little bit older, a little bit greyer, but no less vocal and strong-willed that this needs to happen. This country needs to catch up with the rest of the world.
“There are 300 million people out there around the world who have access to this law. We need to catch up with that. We need to show we are an empathetic country that appreciates choice at the end of your life.”
