It’s back
That’s Life returns to our screens
DAME Esther Rantzen has confirmed that the BBC is in talks to bring back That’s Life! next year – 24 years after it was axed.
The former presenter and producer on the show, which ran for 21 years until 1994, will return as a consultant and it could be on as early as January.
That’s Life! had 20 million viewers at its peak and mixed consumer issues with investigative pieces, while including humour and satire.
Esther, 78, said of the plans: “A friend of mine is having a go. We will see. That’s Life! was a very particular programme which lasted for 21 years.
“It talked about injustices, washing machines that broke and showed you a talking dog at its funniest.”
Lashing out at former BBC chief Alan Yentob, who axed the show, Esther said she would have preferred to rest the format before returning with a new presenter or team.
She said: “What I would have done, Mr Yentob, is said: ‘OK, you have had
a 21-year run. You are beginning to tell the same stories. So maybe let’s give you a year off, let’s find another presenter. Another three presenters. Let’s use Esther as a consultant.’
“What I would have done was refresh it cosmetically but keep that content. So maybe that is what is going to happen in January.”
And Esther thinks the timing is ideal, adding: “I think there is a need for the programme. I definitely do.”
The Mirror revealed talks to bring back That’s Life! had started last summer, when Esther described plans as “a twinkle in someone’s eye”.
Talking at the Leicester Square Theatre at the weekend, Esther shared fond memories of the show.
“It always started with street interviews as we wanted to make it clear to the viewers it was their programme,” she said. “We covered some extraordinary things.”
Esther is also joining the team on Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford’s Channel 5 show Do The Right Thing in January, to investigate consumer issues.