Dame Esther Rantzen’s daughter, Rebecca Wilcox, has shared the heartfelt last words her father, Desmond Wilcox, whispered to her mother before his death. Esther, now 84, was deeply in love with Desmond, who passed away at 69 from a heart attack in 2000. Despite his death 25 years ago, Esther’s love for Desmond remains strong, and Rebecca has spoken about their perfect relationship.
Rebecca, now 45, explained the deep bond between her parents. She said, “If I were to believe in soulmates, I have the perfect example.” She added that Desmond’s last words to her mother were simply, “my love,” as he gazed at her. Rebecca also spoke about how their relationship showed her the importance of embracing life with joy and love, emphasizing how they lived through everything together.
As Esther faces her own terminal illness, Rebecca continues to support her mother, who is battling stage-four lung cancer. In a recent interview, Esther expressed a hope for the afterlife, wondering if she could reunite with Desmond and all the loved ones she’s lost. She said, “If there is a heaven, it would be a very happy place.”
Esther and Desmond’s relationship began under complicated circumstances. In 1968, Esther fell in love with Desmond, who was still married to her best friend, Patsy Price. Despite the initial fallout, they married in 1977 and had three children. After Desmond’s death, Esther reflected on their time together, calling it the happiest period of her life.
Diagnosed with cancer in 2023, Esther has been open about her decision to consider assisted dying, joining Dignitas, a Swiss clinic, should her condition become unbearable. She has expressed regret that the UK’s assisted dying laws are unlikely to change in time to benefit her, but hopes future patients will have more options.