Topics: Celebrity, Health, TV And Film, BBC
Telly-lovers were heartbroken last year when widely-adored presenter Esther Rantzen revealed she'd been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer.
Since then, the on-screen favourite and founder of Childline has shared her difficult health journey with her thousands of fans.
Just before Christmas, the 83-year-old shocked BBC Today listeners by admitting she'd been considering ending her life on her own terms, via euthanasia.
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Chatting on the podcast, Esther revealed she'd visited the Swiss clinic Dignitas for research purposes, being that she hoped to prevent her family from having their final memories of her consumed by cancer.
"I thought, well, if the next scan says nothing’s working I might buzz off to Zurich but it puts my family and friends in a difficult position as they would want to go with me," the much-loved Dame explained.
"The police might prosecute them. My family say it’s my choice. I explained to them that I don’t want their last memories of me to be painful.
"If you watch someone you love having a bad death, that memory obliterates all the happy times."
The former That's Life! presenter previously called for a free vote on assisted dying to allow terminally ill people to pass away on their own terms.
She said on the popular podcast it's what she'd do if she was made prime minister, explaining: "It’s important the law catches up with what the country wants."
And today, the BBC star alluded to the fact that she'd made a decision about ending her life in Switzerland, as she discussed her dream final meal.
Speaking on LBC, she confessed she'd love to splash out on some fine foods - despite the fact that the likes of caviar and champagne don't usually sit well with her.
"I'd like to fly off to Zurich with my nearest and dearest. Have a fantastic dinner the night before," she jibed.
"I'd love caviar, if possible, and the fact that it doesn't always agree with me doesn't matter, does it? I could even have champagne, which I'm deeply allergic to.
"Then the next day, go to this rather unappealing place where they do it."
Opening up on her intended final moments on earth, she spoke of listening to her 'favourite piece of music' and saying 'goodbye to everybody'.
"Tell them to cheer up," she continued. "I'm meeting my late husband, my departed dog and my mother at the pearly gates. Hold up my hand for an injection or open my mouth for a rather disgusting medication."
Delving into the reason behind her decision again, she went on: "I've got an amazing family and a group of friends and colleagues.
"So I'd like to say goodbye fairly gracefully, as much as I can muster, and then go, that's what I'd like."
