Press Release

23 July 2008

The Fellowship will be conferred on Tuesday 22 July, during one of LJMU’s graduation ceremonies at the Liverpool Anglican Cathedral.

Godfrey Mazhindu, Dean of LJMU’s Faculty of Health and Applied Social Science, said: “Esther is passionate about challenging inequalities. Through both her charitable work and her investigative journalism, she has campaigned for change on a range of issues and we encourage our students to share her determination to succeed. The University already enjoys close links with Esther through our partnership with ChildLine North West and we are delighted to formally welcome her into the LJMU family by awarding her an Honorary Fellowship.”

Commenting on her conferment, Esther said: “I am extremely honoured to receive a Fellowship for my work on behalf of children and young people. This work has been a priority for me for many years, but like all of us who work in this field I am only too aware how much we have still to do, if we are to achieve our goal that every child enjoys a safe, loving childhood. The Fellowship will inspire and motivate me to work even harder in the future.”

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Press enquiries:

Siobhan Sheils, 0151 231 3369, 07929 999 394 s.sheils@ljmu.ac.uk

Shonagh Wilkie, 0151 231 3346, 07968 422 508 s.wilkie@ljmu.ac.uk

Notes to editors:

About Esther Rantzen

Esther Rantzen became a household name in 1973, when That’s Life first appeared on TV screens. Written and presented by Esther for 21 years, the ground-breaking programme was both entertaining and informative, featuring investigative journalism which championed the consumer and exposed dishonest businesses and petty bureaucracy.

One particular edition of the programme revealed the prevalence of child abuse in society and, at Esther’s request, featured a helpline number. During the 48 hours it was open, the helpline was inundated with calls from children reporting physical and sexual abuse and, realising the need for a permanent service, Esther founded ChildLine.

Established in 1986, the helpline now has twelve bases around the UK and has improved the lives of millions of children. LJMU has direct connections with the charity, offering a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) course in partnership with ChildLine Northwest. The programme offers training for volunteers to become telephone counsellors and enables them to gain a qualification for their time and services.

Esther herself continues to work as a counsellor on ChildLine, alongside her role as President. For twenty years she also chaired the organisation’s Board of Trustees. When ChildLine merged with the NSPCC, she became a Trustee of the NSPCC. Esther is also President of the Association for Young People with M.E. (AYME) and is a patron of various hospices and charities for disabled people.

In addition to her charitable work 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.

Her wide-ranging TV work includes devising Hearts of Gold, which celebrated outstanding acts of kindness or courage, presenting the twice BAFTA nominated Esther talk show, and presenting ITV’s "That's Esther" campaigning programme.

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

In 1991, Esther Rantzen received an OBE for services to broadcasting which was raised to a CBE in 2006 for her services to children.

About Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU)

Founded in 1825, LJMU has grown into one of the UK’s most dynamic and progressive universities. The University currently has around 24,000 students in Liverpool, with a further 4,500 students enrolled on accredited-courses overseas. In 2007, the University launched a globally unique model of higher education that places industry and employer engagement at the heart of the student experience.

Nominations for LJMU’s Honorary Fellowships and Corporate Awards are invited from both inside and outside the University and are selected on a confidential basis by a special committee representing the Board of Governors, the Academic Board and the Students' Union.