The First Call

In 1986, Esther Rantzen made a promise on national television: a free, confidential helpline that any child could call. On the first night, more than 50,000 children tried to get through.

Esther was the face of That's Life!, watched by millions every weekend, and her team was receiving thousands of letters from children suffering sexual abuse, begging for help that no one else would give. With a small group of allies, and in the face of resistance from the establishment, she built something that had never existed before: a helpline run by volunteers. Told by those who were there, including That's Life! colleague Bryher Scudamore, Colin Butler, one of Childline's longest-serving Counsellors, who answered the phone on the opening night and still volunteers today, and Esther's daughter Rebecca Wilcox. We hear how a BT engineer's test number became one of the most famous in the UK (0800 11 11), and how the helpline quickly grew to listen to children about any concern, fear or hope. And we hear from Karen, one of that first wave of children trying to reach out, whose call to Childline, when she finally made it, changed the course of her life. In fact, saved it.

Trigger warnings: Domestic violence and physical harm: 9:00–9:20 Sexual abuse and physical harm: 16:30–17:42, 21:19–23:55, 46:34–47:25 Suicide or suicidal ideation: 28:28–30:40 Miscarriage: 41:00–42:00

If you need support: Childline (for children and young people under 19): 0800 11 11 · childline.org.uk NSPCC Helpline (for adults worried about a child): 0808 800 5000 · nspcc.org.uk NAPAC (for adults abused as children): 0808 801 0331 · napac.org.uk Samaritans (for anyone, 24 hours a day): 116 123 · samaritans.org Internet Watch Foundation (report child sexual abuse images or videos, anonymously; under 18? Use Report Remove on childline.org.uk): iwf.org.uk CSA Centre (research, data and resources for anyone working with children): csacentre.org.uk

Credits: Hosted, exec produced and co-written by Natalie Dormer Production, interviews and sound design by Phoebe McIndoe Theme and additional composition by Gary Hickeson Operations, marketing and distribution managed by Helen Parker Special thanks to OG Podcasts and Quercine Ltd An independent Dog Rose production, supported by the NSPCC, with special thanks to Sarah Pickstone and the team © 2026 Dog Rose Productions