JOURNALIST, presenter, campaigner and one-time candidate for Parliament Ester Rantzen has been unveiled as the speaker for the 2011 Colchester Lecturer.

She will talk about her career ranging from presenting BBC series like That’s Life! and Childwatch, appearing on Strictly Come Dancing and I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here, and writing for a host of national newspaper.

Most recently, the 70-year-old stood as an independent candidate for Luton South following the expenses scandal, but lost her deposit after winning just 4.4 per cent of the votes.

Gemma Rawlinson, event manager at lecture organisers Mosaic Publicity, said: “We are very excited to have such an iconic TV legend at this year’s Colchester Lecture.

“Esther Rantzen has had an amazing career and achieved so much through media awareness. It takes someone special to have the ability to change the law and launch a national charity on the back of a television programme, she is an inspiration to us all.”

The lecture, at the Mercury Theatre on Wednesday, June 15 at 6.30pm, will raise money for ChildLine, which Ms Rantzen founded.

She follows the likes of Falklands war hero Simon Weston, Dame Tanni Grey Thompson, world-famous architect Rafael Vinoly, Lord Robert Winston, Tony Robinson and Michael Fish as the keynote speaker at the prestigious civic event.

Tickets are on sale for £10.50 per person, £9.30 concessions from the Mercury Theatre box office on 01206 573948, or online at mercurytheatre.co.uk