Dame Esther Rantzen wants 'champagne and caviar' before Dignitas death

Dame Esther Rantzen has shared her wishes for a final meal of caviar and champagne before her death, after signing up for an assisted dying clinic.

The 83-year-old founder of Childline, who was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2023, has been campaigning for a change in the law to legalise assisted dying.

She joined Swiss-assisted dying company Dignitas as a precautionary measure "if the law does not change in time".

Speaking on LBC, Dame Esther detailed her plans for her final moments, including a farewell dinner, listening to her favourite music, and saying goodbye to her loved ones.

Dame Esther, from Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, said the laws surrounding assisted dying are a "mess at the moment" as her family could be accused of murder if they travelled with her to Dignitas.

The former journalist and television presenter emphasised the importance of "individual choice" if her suffering from cancer becomes "too great".

"The intentions are good... to protect people in the last days of their life, from being coerced into something by greedy relatives, or other crimes of that kind," she said.

"As I have terminal cancer, it is a possibility that my life will become too painful, that my suffering will be too great.

"Even with the great palliative care skills that exist in this country and in my local hospice, they won't be able to help me and I want to die.

"What we need is for people to have individual choice, at that moment, which is literally life and death."

Dame Esther, along with the Daily Express and the campaign group Dignity in Dying, launched a petition demanding a parliamentary vote on the subject, which amassed 120,000 signatures in about three weeks.

Sarah Wootton, chief executive of Dignity in Dying, told the PA news agency: "Dame Esther Rantzen speaks for countless families up and down the country, from all walks of life, who are demanding change.

"Under the current law, dying people are forced to choose between suffering, suicide or Switzerland. From countries that have already legalised like Australia and New Zealand, we know that there is a better, kinder, safer way.

"Assisted dying would only be available to terminally ill people with mental capacity, subject to assessment by two independent doctors.

"It is clear that it is time for a free and fair debate on assisted dying, but the law will not change unless the next Government commits to making Parliamentary time for this issue. Nowhere is the personal more political than in matters of life and death."

Dr Gordon Macdonald, chief executive officer of the campaign group Care Not Killing, who opposes assisted dying, told the PA: "Changing the law to legalise assisted suicide or euthanasia in the UK would represent a dramatic change in how doctors and nurses treat and care for people.

"It would also place huge pressure, real or perceived on terminally ill and disabled people to end their lives exactly as we see in the handful of places that have legalised assisted suicide or euthanasia."