Cate Haste, writer and TV producer whose projects explored among other subjects the role of women in the 20th century – obituary The second wife of the eminent broadcaster Melvyn Bragg, she had many friends and concentrated on building up a successful career of her own Cate Haste: held in great affection by friends and colleagues Credit: Chris Barham/Daily Mail/Shutterstock Cate Haste, who has died aged 75, was an acclaimed author, biographer, historian and documentary film maker – and the second wife of the writer and broadcaster Melvyn (now Lord) Bragg. A determined but unshowy woman, Cate Haste preferred to be known by her maiden name and built a career behind, rather than in front of the camera, becoming one of the few early female film producer-directors in television.