Esther Rantzen - Honours

Honours

In 1991, Rantzen was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to broadcasting, and has received honorary doctorates from five universities (including the Southampton Institute, the London South Bank University and the University of Portsmouth) for her humanitarian work and her career as a broadcaster. She is an Honorary Fellow of Somerville College, Oxford, and Liverpool John Moores University. She was raised to Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) on 17 June 2006 for services to children.

She has received a number of professional awards, including the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Women in Film and Television organisation, the Royal Television Society's Special Judges' Award for Journalism, their Fellowship, and Membership of their Hall of Fame. She also was the first woman to receive a Dimbleby Award from BAFTA for factual presentation. She received the Snowdon Award for services to disabled people.

Rantzen is President of ChildLine, and of the Association for Young People with M.E. (AYME), Chair of The Silver Line and a Trustee of the NSPCC. She is a Patron of various hospices and charities for children and disabled people, including the Red Balloon for bullied children, the Iain Rennie Hospice at Home, the Hillingdon Manor School for autistic children, the North London Hospice, and the Campaign for Courtesy. She has also served on a number of government committees, including the National Consumer Council, the Health Education Authority and the Campaign for Quality Television.

Rantzen was also honoured in the BBC Comedy series Bottom when she had a cocktail named after her. The cocktail consisted of Ouzo, Pernod, marmalade and salt.