Dame Esther Rantzen defines her life strategy as "having fun, things to look forward to and incorporating as much laughter into my days as possible".

The That's Life! star, who lives in the New Forest, was devastated when her husband of 23 years, TV producer Desmond 'Desi' Wilcox, died of a heart attack in 2000.

But the formidable 76-year-old TV legend is determined the loss will not limit her.

Instead, she's used it as a force for good and in 2013, 27 years after she set up Childline, she launched The Silver Line, a helpline for older people, as a result of the huge response she received after revealing her own crushing loneliness as a widow.

"It's been 16 years now since I lost Desi and the truth is, it's still as painful," she says.

"Someone once told me there would come a time when I wouldn't think about him every day. That time hasn't happened yet. In fact, I talk to Desi, particularly if I'm going to make a decision. I try to beam into him and work out what he would advise or think about something."

She's philosophical about ever finding love again and a recent appearance on Channel 4's Celebrity First Dates, was somewhat chastening. She was paired with 68-year-old lawyer John Wood, who told her: "For a lady of your advancing years, Esther, you're tremendous company."

"God knows he probably didn't mean to offend me, and I'm glad he thought I was splendid company, but sad my age was such an important factor. Basically, he saw me as a little old lady, which is definitely not how I see myself," she says with a wry smile.

Her aim is to challenge herself and "continually learn - because I still have a helluva lot to learn and hope never to reach the end of enjoying new things and adventures."

Her work provides her with huge fulfilment: "I'd never retire, although eventually I'd like to cut down a bit to give me more time with the family".

But slowing down won't happen until she's helped ensure older people are given their proper status in society, "as a fantastic treasure trove filled with valuable memories and life experience," says Rantzen, who is backing a campaign by TalkTalk to alert the elderly to scam phone calls.

"Too many feel they're past their sell-by-date, that nobody wants to know them, talk to them or value their opinions, and are particularly vulnerable to conmen who target them and charm them into giving away personal financial details. We've devised three simple steps to keep them safe: don't give any details and hang up. Make a cup of tea to give yourself time to consider if the call was genuine and allow the line to clear. Then ring an official customer enquiries number found on a credit card, bill or invoice so you can find out whether the call was genuine."

Her other focus is her family: "My three little grandsons give me enormous pleasure and I want to live long enough to watch them grow up. Luckily, my mother lived to 94, so hopefully longevity is in the genes," she says, beaming.

Down-to-earth as ever, she states: "I don't worry about my health - my view is, if I wake up in the morning and nothing new has fallen off, I must be fine.

"At the end of the day, all you can do is take each day as it comes and make the best of it, and that's why I try to do."

  • Esther Rantzen is working with TalkTalk to inform and empower more people to protect themselves against scams as part of TalkTalk's Beat the Scammers campaign. For information, tips and advice visit www.talktalkgroup.com/beatthescammers