Esther: Every day is now an extra bonus

DAME Esther Rantzen has said it would be “lovely” to meet her late husband Desmond Wilcox again in heaven, as she confirmed that her life-extending wonder drug has stopped working.

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The former That’s Life! presenter, 84, has been receiving treatment for stage four lung cancer and enjoys every day now “as an extra bonus”.

She added: “If there is a heaven, it would be a very happy place. It’s a lovely idea to meet Desmond again and all those I have loved and lost – my parents and grandparents, my close friends and family.”

The couple married in 1977 and had three children: Miriam, Rebecca and Joshua. TV executive Desmond died of heart disease in 2000, aged 69.

Describing her future as “extremely limited”, Dame Esther said she was spending her days at her New Forest home admiring her beautiful spring garden. She added: “Television and Radio 4 are great company for people like me who can no longer get about much. I have become addicted to quizzes and antique shows.”

The Childline founder and grandmother-of-five says her happiest moments are “when I make my grandchildren laugh”.

She has also been enjoying the company of an unexpected companion – a rescue cat called Boots.

She said: “Boots chose us; we had no intention of owning a cat. It makes me happy watching Boots home admiring her beautiful spring garden. She added: “Television and Radio 4 are great company for people like me who can no longer get about much. I have become addicted to quizzes and antique shows.”