Esther: I don't know if I'll live long enough to see this debated

DAME Esther Rantzen yesterday admitted she might not "live long enough" to see assisted dying debated in Parliament.

-  Giles Sheldrick

Last year the TV presenter and campaigner, 83, who has stage four lung cancer, urged MPs to hold a debate when Parliament returned in 2024 and said any vote had to take place outside the party whip system.

A petition launched by Dame Esther and the Daily Express demanding a Parliamentary debate and free vote on the issue is approaching 65,000 signatures.

The Childline founder revealed last month that she had joined the Dignitas assisted dying clinic in Switzerland. She said she would consider the option if cancer treatment does not improve her condition.

Her daughter, TV host Rebecca Wilcox, yesterday said she found it "surprising" when her mother revealed she had joined the clinic. Asked when she was made aware, she told ITV's Loose Women: "Probably the same time as you! It was a little surprising.

She likes surprising us and she likes keeping us on our toes.