BBC radio host mortified after blunder with terminally ill Dame Esther Rantzen

14 hours ago

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BBC Radio presenter Amol Rajan felt embarrassed after he inquired if Dame Esther Rantzen was still "with us."

The critically ill broadcaster disclosed that she was diagnosed with lung cancer in January of the previous year. Since then, she has actively expressed her support for assisted dying and has been candid about the limited time she has remaining.

Rantzen, 84, was a guest on the BBC Radio 4 Today show on Friday morning, October 4, when there seemed to be a few technical difficulties.

“Good morning, Dame Esther,” Rajan said as he welcomed her to the show, but there was no reply.

"Is Dame Esther Rantzen here with us?" he asked once more.

The TV star seemed to return to social media when she joked, “I sure hope so!”

Rajan recognized his mistake, chuckling and exclaiming, "Oh no."

Rantzen added, “I’m putting in a lot of effort!”

Rajan felt utterly humiliated and ashamed as he exclaimed, "Oh no, oh no, oh no... that was definitely the worst question I could have ever posed."

Esther Rantzen - Figure 2 — Photo The Independent

He went on to say, “I hope you can excuse me. What I really meant to ask is if the line is functioning, and it seems to be working just fine. I guess I should kick things off by asking how you’re doing.”

Social media users responded positively, commending Rajan for how he managed the mistake. They noted, "He handled it exceptionally well by recognizing the error and quickly taking responsibility."

Some people with a darker sense of humor claimed they were in stitches.

"One commenter noted, 'When you find yourself in a difficult situation, the best course of action is to stop making it worse!'"

Earlier this year, Rantzen shared that a new medication was helping to manage her cancer, and as a result, she felt “much better” than she had anticipated.

The well-known broadcaster, famous for establishing Childline—a helpline for youth under 18—has shared that she has joined the Swiss assisted dying service, Dignitas. She has advocated for a vote in Parliament on the issue, describing the existing law as a “cruel mess.”

After hearing about the spread of the illness, Rantzen shared with PA: “At 82 years old, this diagnosis has led me to reflect on my life, and I want to sincerely thank everyone who has brought joy, fun, and inspiration into my years.”