Gloria Hunniford has paid a heartfelt tribute to ‘formidable force’ Dame Esther Rantzen on Thursday following her death aged 86.The broadcaster and campaigner passed away following a battle with lung cancer, first revealed in January 2023, her family announced in a statement on Wednesday.And appearing on Good Morning Britain, Gloria, 86, told how she admired Esther as ‘a broadcaster and a woman’ as she reflected on her life, before admitting her sadness at not being able to see her friend before she died. The Loose Women star joined Esther’s former That’s Life co-star Adrian Mills, 70, to discuss Esther’s life and legacy, with Gloria noting that the ‘whole nation’ would undoubtedly be sad at her passing. Gloria said: ‘She was a formidable force. I loved her as a woman and I loved her as a broadcaster. I admired her as a broadcaster and I admired her as a woman.’Gloria went on to reflect on her friendship with Esther, whom she first met in the early 80s amid their broadcasting careers, before explaining that it was her friend’s wish not to have ‘too many’ visitors in the time before her death. Gloria Hunniford has paid a heartfelt tribute to ‘formidable force’ Dame Esther Rantzen on Thursday following her death aged 86 The broadcaster and campaigner passed away following a battle with lung cancer, first revealed in January 2023, her family announced in a statement on WednesdayShe shared: ‘When I came to London to work, Esther was one of my first guests and I got to know her really well. We’re roughly the same age, and we had lots of things in common, and it was always a privilege. ‘I was very sad recently, you know I didn’t see her before she passed, and I think that was her choice of course, she didn’t want too many people down at the New Forest where she was – I understand that.’ During the tribute, Gloria also heaped praise on Esther’s work ethic as she recalled the time the star juggled work and family life with aplomb as she brought both her secretary and her baby to her hair dressing appointment while doing work for That’s Life.She said: ‘I was thinking today, there was a funny side of Esther and when I came over to London from Northern Ireland, I was the absolute new girl and I remember being at the hairdressers and Esther came in one day. ‘She had with her the secretary, she had a baby with her, she had notebooks with her… and while the poor man was trying to dry her hair, she was working on That’s Life there and then! And I thought “wow, this is what you have to do!”.’ Detailing how her late friend was a force to be reckoned with, she went on: ‘What I really loved about Esther was her tenacity. Because she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.’I know that obviously what she’s been fighting for recently with assisted dying, sadly for her she didn’t get that before she’d passed, but look at what she achieved. As Adrian said the legacy that she’s left. I just love that fact that she wouldn’t take no for an answer, she changed the law.’Adding further kind words to her tribute, the Rip Off Britain star added: ‘Sometimes we use the word unique in a faulty way, but she was unique. There was never anybody like Esther and there probably never will be again somebody like Esther because she was categorically unique…’I just loved her as a character, I just loved her as a women and I loved her as a broadcaster. She had so many aspects to her to her life – and what a life she’s led!’ Appearing on Good Morning Britain, Gloria, 86, told how she admired Esther as ‘a broadcaster and a woman’ as she reflected on her life, before admitting her sadness at not being able to see her friend before she died. Gloria joined Esther’s former That’s Life co-star Adrian Mills, 70, to discuss Esther’s life and legacy, with Gloria noting that the ‘whole nation’ would undoubtedly be sad at her passing Gloria went on to reflect on her friendship with Esther, before explaining that it was her friend’s wish not to have ‘too many’ visitors in the time before her death [pictured together in 2004]In the wake of her death, Davina McCall and Anton Du Beke were among the stars to bid farewell to ‘national treasure’ on social media. Dame Esther revealed in December 2023 that she had joined Dignitas and would consider going there to end her life.But last month, she shared in a heartfelt statement that it was too late for her to ‘buzz off’ to the Swiss clinic as planned and revealed her anguish over loved ones being left to witness her suffering. Before she died, Dame Esther criticised the ‘messy and cruel’ law in England and Wales which would criminalise loved ones who tried to help.She said that despite having ‘spent the money and made the plans’ to go to Switzerland she was now ‘too physically fragile to make the journey’.Her death came just weeks after the second reading of the Assisted Dying Bill – which she had heavily supported – was narrowly defeated in the House of Commons.Dame Esther expressed sadness after the Bill was rejected – branding it a ‘tragic day’.On Wednesday, her family revealed Dame Esther had penned a poignant message before her death, her children revealed today.The message read: ‘Dear Everybody, I am so sorry I cannot send you each individual thanks for the fun, the support and the help you have been to me. Last month, Esther shared in a statement that it was too late for her to ‘buzz off’ to Swiss clinic Dignitas as planned and revealed her anguish over loved ones being left to witness her suffering’I have been immensely lucky in the friendship and the professional advice I have had from you which has enabled me to live such a long and happy life.’If any of you would like to donate something to charity in my name as a celebration of what we have had together, I do know that the Dignitas charity in Switzerland is facing serious challenges and would be very grateful.’And the Oakhaven Hospice in Lymington has also been wonderful to me. And Cathy would like me to pay tribute to Cats Protection of course.’Sadly, all good things come to an end, as they say. So I particularly wanted to say goodbye and thank you so very, very much. Perhaps I will see you eventually, on the other side. I do hope so. With very good wishes, as ever, Esther.’Announcing the news of her death, her family shared poignant photographs of the TV personality in her last public appearance as she enjoyed an 85th birthday lunch with her loved ones.A statement issued tonight by her children, Miriam Wilcox, Rebecca Wilcox and Joshua Wilcox said: ‘Our adored mother, Dame Esther Rantzen, died today. Her legacy of compassion and understanding will live on in her charities Childline and the Silverline, and through those of us who were lucky enough to love and be loved by her.’We are grateful she is finally at rest with her beloved husband, Desmond Wilcox, but we will miss her immeasurably. She was our sunshine.’We will always remember her endless capacity for joy, her ability to comfort every heartache, her beautiful way with words and her expert guidance in all things.’She was the most wonderful mother to us three children and a cherished grandmother to her five treasured grandchildren.’We have been so lucky for so long, no matter how much time we had with Mum it could be never be enough, but we are so grateful for our lives together.’Mum’s work with charities and campaigning, particularly for children, older people, and the terminally ill, meant the world to her so thank you to everyone who has written to her, shared their stories with her over the years and worked alongside her.’We hope the humour, ingenuity and audacity she brought to her work may continue to inspire you as it will do us. We kindly ask that we are given privacy and time to grieve.’