Esther Rantzen has opened up about the difficulties she’s faced dating in her 70s.
The TV personality was heavily involved in setting up Childline, and three years ago, was also responsible for The Silver Line, a phone line intended to help older people deal with issues like loneliness in their later years.
Speaking about her own experiences, Esther told Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard on Tuesday’s (23 August) ‘Good Morning Britain’: “I lived on cheese and biscuits for ages [after her husband’s death, in 2000], and even for me, that front door became like a brick wall that I didn’t really have the confidence to go through, because I thought, ‘who would want me on my own now?’.”
“And so I know about the ways loneliness can lead to physical and mental ill health.”
In recent times, Esther has been vocal about her search for love, even appearing on a celebrity special of Channel 4’s ‘First Dates’.
She added: “Nothing changes! I don’t know if you remember a first date… you’d think now that I’m 76 that these things would come easily. Nope. Just as difficult.”
During her emotional ‘First Dates’ appearance, Esther had viewers in tears as she opened up about her husband’s death.
She admitted on screen: “I’ve got plenty of people to do something with, but no one to do the nothing with.”
However, her appearance didn’t end up in romance for Esther, despite her date later sending her a dozen white roses.
Probably because the roses were actually intended as an apology for his remark about her “advancing years”...
Ouch.
‘Good Morning Britain’ airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
Tap the image below to launch the slideshow...
