Labour peer Lord Melvyn Bragg’s 44-year marriage to his wife Catherine Haste ended today in a 50-second court hearing.
The distinguished broadcaster and writer agreed to hand over a sizeable chunk of his fortune to his long-term partner when they split more than two years ago.
The couple, who have two grown up children, remained husband and wife after the separation, but have now formally confirmed their divorce with a petition for a decree nisi at the Central London family court this morning.
In papers submitted by Ms Haste, she said the marriage had “broken down irretrievably” and cited “two years’ separation by consent” as grounds for the divorce.
District Judge Anne Hudd granted a decree nisi in a hearing lasting just 50 seconds, formally bringing the marriage to an end.
Neither Lord Bragg, the host of the celebrated South Bank Show, nor Ms Haste, an author, were at the hearing
The peer has agreed to pay £1,500 to his ex-wife to cover her legal fees, the court documents show.
The divorce will be finalised in six weeks’ time as long as there are no objections to the split.
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