Esther Rantzen loves 'shocking family' by gardening topless and is open to 'Naked Attraction'

Dame Esther Rantzen is no stranger to gardening topless and she's even pondering taking a shot at dating show Naked Attraction.

The 81-year-old journalist and TV presenter told the Daily Star she loves to shock her daughter Rebecca Wilcox, with whom she hosts a show on Boom Radio.

"I admitted, for example, the fact that I walked around the garden topless. I must say, the gardener was a little taken aback," said Rantzen.

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The TV veteran admitted she tries to keep her personal life off the radio, but finds it difficult to prevent herself from teasing her daughter.

"It's rather worrying," she said. "I try and keep it polite and discreet, but unfortunately the desire to shock my daughter overcomes me."

Watch: Esther Rantzen discusses importance of care home visits

Rantzen has appeared on some of TV's most popular reality shows, including I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here and Strictly Come Dancing, but she has her eye on a more unconventional choice.

"I've been wondering about Naked Attraction, because I love shocking my family," she revealed.

Read more: Naked Attraction contestant walks off set after being overwhelmed

"I thought I'd be in one of the pods. But they'd all have to be my age, and it would be hilarious.

"I'd have a naked old man. No, actually, I don't think I'd like a naked old man picking us."

Naked Attraction host Anna Richardson previously listed her own dream contestants for a celebrity edition of the show, naming Phillip Schofield, BBC anchor Huw Edwards and Channel 4 political editor Gary Gibbon.

Rantzen said her uninhibited personality comes as "a bit of a shock" to men, revealing she attended a speed dating event a decade or so ago, geared towards young men looking for older women.

She said: "There was one very nice young man. We got on very well and I asked him why he wanted an older woman. Was it because she had a mature wallet?

"And he said: 'No, I'm looking for a grateful old slapper'. I don't think I was grateful enough."

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Rantzen famously hosted magazine show That's Life! between 1973 and 1994 and subsequently founded children's charity Childline as well as The Silver Line, which aims to tackle loneliness in older people.

She was made a dame as part of the New Year Honours list in 2015, in recognition of her charitable work.

Watch: Maureen Lipman walked off Gogglebox after Naked Attraction clip