She is dealing with it just as Esther would she has her family around her & is happy

Rippon on TV star's lung cancer fight

- ASHLEIGH RAINBIRD

ANGELA Rippon has paid tribute to friend Dame Esther Rantzen who is battling lung cancer by surrounding herself with family at home.

Angela said her fellow TV star, who in May revealed she had stage four cancer, remains upbeat despite her advanced illness.

She added: "She's dealing with it as Esther would.

She's happy.

"The last time we had any lengthy conversation, she was very happy being in her home in the country with her family around her.

"And that now is where she's happy.

"She's got family around her, friends around her and she dictates when she's happy to talk." Former BBC newsreader Angela, 78, described Dame Esther's achievements with Childline and The Silver Line, which gives advice to older people, as outstanding. She added: "She's someone who has put back into life, and put back into her public.

"She read her public and knew children needed Childline and people who were retired needed Silver Line, and she stepped up and provided it.