Her voice is still ringing in the ears of many of those over the age of 30, but now she’s back and Esther Rantzen has said she is likely to stand as a candidate in the next British general election.
Rantzen – who is better known for her consumer watchdog programme That’s Life in the 1980s - said she was "80 per cent on" to stand for election in Luton in protest at the scandal over MPs' expenses.
Speaking in the town, the 68-year-old said she was more likely than not to stand against Luton South MP Margaret Moran.
Ms Moran claimed £22,500 for treating dry rot at her home in Southampton, 100 miles from her constituency, but has agreed to repay the money.
Ms Rantzen spent the day in Luton yesterday meeting and greeting local people. She said she would spend a week consulting with friends before making up her mind to stand.
She said: "I have not made up my mind yet that I am definitely going to stand. What I have made up my mind about is that I love Luton. It's a great place, I have met young people, old people and people of all ethnic groups and they have all been very welcoming."
Asked what she would bet on the likelihood of standing, she said: "I would say 80 per cent on. I think I am more likely to go for it."
Ms Rantzen added: "What people tell me is that the protest vote in itself is very important. It's a way of expressing what the electorate feels about the scandal that has been going on. They want someone they can trust and that has been unanimous.
"I think Margaret Moran's claim for £22,500 to get the dry rot off her house 100 miles away was a disgrace and she has paid it back, but she has paid it back now we know about it. I was shocked and, God knows, the people of Luton are right to be shocked."
Ms Rantzen said her experience on reality TV show I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here was good preparation for the role of an MP. he joked: "I have been incarcerated underground, showered with creepy crawlies and kept in the dark, so what's new?"