Live webchat with Esther Rantzen, Tues, 19 Jan, 2-3pm

[GeraldineMumsnet]

We're very pleased to welcome Esther Rantzen as our next webchat guest on Tues 19 Jan at 2pm.

Esther is chair of The Family Commission, the national inquiry into the extended family and the support it needs in the 21st century, in partnership with 4Children.

She became a household name as the presenter of That's Life, and has presented other series such as How to Have a Good Death about palliative care, as well as appearing on I'm a Celebrity and Strictly.

She is the president of ChildLine, has a CBE for services to children and is standing as an Independent candidate for Luton South in the general election.

As usual, please post any advance questions here if you can't make it on the day. And, last but not least, please abide by our webchat rules.

Esther, hello!

what is your all time favourite vegetable shaped like a thingy?

sausages!

I volunteered for ChildLine a few years ago and it was an excellent organisation. Big fan of Esther's work. Will go away and see if I can think of an intelligent question to ask! V good choice for a webchat guest

Hello Esther

Firstly, I loved That's Life, it was fab and I still remember the stuff you did on children's teeth coming through rotten due to juice/sugar drinks, (I'm in my early thirties now so should give you an idea of how young I was at that time), it is the reason my DD (21 mths) is only given water for most of the time. Thank you.

I would like to ask who was the most memerable member of the public you interviewed for That's Life when you used to take to the streets?

I just wanted to say thank you Esther* for Childline. I was never brave enough to call but I know you have helped save thousands of children from horrific childhoods.

Are you still going to be a councillor or MP?

Hello Esther, congratulations on Childline. Are you still involved with it, and how hard was it to start up?

Another one to say thank you for Childline.

I called them when I was 17 - I had just had a baby, dd's dad had buggered off and I had no family which I was in touch with. The counsellor (Jenny) was so kind.

I also remember when Childline was set up - I may have got this wrong but I think it was set up in memory of a young girl called Katherine Bamber who had killed herself after being bullied at school.

So well done Esther for setting that up and still championing those causes.

By the way, that theme tune was like dooooom however, because it meant the weekend was over and you had to get up for school in the morning.

Hi Esther,

You probably hear this ALL the time but... my Day (high up manager in a large city centre insurance company) ran away from you and your microphone in the street in Glasgow in the late 70's!!! Thank you for an unforgettable moment That's Life!!!

You seem like a go getter. An ambitious and driven woman with your priorities in the right place. I unfortunately suffer from social anxiety which stops me from living my life to the full. Please can you give some positive words of advice on how to live your life to the full?

Thank you so much, Esther. You remain a solid role model to me. You have conquered so much in your life. You are a true inspiration.

Sorry - my Dad. Not my Day....

Question: stigmatisation of mental health is still unfortunately very prevalent.what more would you like to see done

i really want to commend you for childline and the impact that has had upon conceptualisation of child and adolescent issues

cocolepew - I know she is still involved as she was at the Glasgow base one Monday in the summer and I was off with swine flu so didn't get to meet her!

Hi Esther, am a ChildLine counsellor, started my training a year ago and I love it!As long as work allows I try to do 2 shifts a week as I enjoy it so much. Anyway what I wanted to ask was your opinion on how far things have gone with regards to vetting everyone working with children. For example parents not being allowed to help out as a one off in a childs classroom without a CRB check even though they will never be left alone with the children. Hope to meet you next time you are in Glasgow base!

Hello Esther,

Good luck with running for Luton South in the next election. If you are elected, do you think that you will have to give up some of your other work, or will you juggle things?

Congratulations on Childline by the way, fantastic service.

PS. That's Life always used to signal the end of the weekend for me - and the dread of any homework not having been done

Hello Esther.

Well done for your work with childlihne,Iam another who was too nervos to call but I know you have helped many.

A question: you are an independent candidate. What are your policies on carers- in particular do you agree that carers should have their allowance stopped whilst studying-? it really hinders attempts to get back into employment. That includes young carers- thre is so little for children such as my ds2 who has two brothers with ASD, and I know that is affecting him negatively despite my best attempts. The Cubs bumped him up the list to give him a break, but young carers here is inaccessible (I know people who are still on the on the waiting list after years) and there is nothing else at all.

Thank you.

Right here's my question - Your daughter had ME (I have Fibromyaglia which is very similar) have you noticed any changes in how the illness and those similar ones are viewed by the medical profession, in regard to treatment, and also by service such as those who make decisions on thing such as work and benefits? Also how the illness is perceived by the public, do you think that in the years since your daughter had it people still view it as "laziness" and think that because you outwardly look ok then you must be fine?
I have spent 2 years in Hampshire banging my head against a brick wall with regards to my GPs (am moving to Yorkshire soon so hopefully it will change) and am going through a bad patch healthwise and feel I don't get much support from my GPs.

I hope your daughter is much better these days.
Finally I want to say thank you for the Sunday night TV of my childhood, That's Life was one show we all used to sit around and watch, and for your work with Childline, I was luckky I never had the need to call them but I knwo there are thousands of children who have benefitted from it.

Hello Esther.

Were there any campaigns on That's Life that didn't really get off the ground but you really thought were worth fighting for and were there any that you regret supporting?

(I'm totally in awe of how much you have managed to achieve since That's Life started)

Hi Esther,

I was very young when That's Life was on tv, but it was one of my favourite shows. I think you should bring it back.

What's your favourite biscuit?

Esther, I understand that you are standing for election for some very good reasons, but having lived under Martin Bell as an MP I can say, this is not always a good thing. What, exactly, do you think you can bring to the people of Luton South by way of improvements to the area and their lives, do you have any actual policies - I've looked and can't find any.

Please note, I don't disagree that the expenses scandal should be a factor in the next election, it just shouldn't be the only platform. Trust me, we got absolutely nothing acomplished with Martin Bell as an MP.

Childline BTW, excellent!

WondersIfAnyoneWillAskTheParentingGuruQuestionTiggaxx

I think you're totally amazing Thank you for coming to chat with us! Must go think of a question now...

Bump

I am surprised this thread doesn't have more posts.

Oh Esther
I loved you so much on That's Life, i watched every Sunday (it was on Sunday's wasn't it?)
It was just such good family entertainment.

I don't really have a question, but if you are ever down in Somerset then please come and visit me for a cup of tea and to be a part of my 'Our Visitors' project.
ourvisitors.blogspot.com/

hoping you'll pop in to see me one day.

Charlie

Another person who wishes to say thank you for childline.
I was physically abused by my father and I did ring childline a number of times. I never got the courage to tell anyhone my name but just having someone to talk to who wouldn't judge, question or disbelieve me was a real lif saver for me. So thank you.

I don't have a question but will pop back if I do!

Hi Esther, i know you are a great supporter of deaf charities. My son is profoundly deaf. Do you think BSL should be taught as a language in schools???

Hi Esther

When I was about one or two, you picked me from a cot in GOSH to be on an ad for Children in Need that year. I have a polaroid of the tv screen with me sitting on your knee and a note from you saying 'To beautiful Clare'. I treasure it!

No questions, though, I'm afraid!

Dear Esther,
If you are elected i wonder if you could start a campaign to stop convicted child killers from ever having more children. I remember a discussion on radio 4 about this with regards to Baby P; and one speaker mentioned human rights which made me so angry. What about the child's rights to have an abuse free life?

Why isn't this a sticky? Might be why there aren't many questions on it?