After a degree in Drama and English from Manchester University, Kate worked for ten years in the theatre, acting in repertory at Northampton, Salisbury, Ipswich, Leatherhead, Guildford and Plymouth. She also toured in plays around this country and in the Far and Middle East. She has appeared in television productions including My Brother Jonathon, Missing From Home, Casualty, and The Bill and was also in three West End plays, Fighting Chance, Rookery Nook and An Italian Straw Hat.

A change of emphasis in her career occurred with the birth of her son Jack and the publication of her first novel Rebecca’s Children by Barrie and Jenkins. This was followed by the publication of Always and Always, the Wartime Letters of Hugh and Margaret Williams, edited by Kate and published by John Murray. She abridged this for broadcasting as part of Radio 4’s commemoration of the fiftieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In October 1998 John Murray issued her book Exit Through the Fireplace - The Great Days of Rep and the sequel to this, Do Not Adjust Your Set - The Early Days of Live Television, was published in 2003.

Kate has written articles for magazines, her poetry has been published in literary journals, she has written travel articles for various national newspapers and her short story Persephone was aired on Radio 4. She has broadcast on Radios Two, Three and Four and has been a regular contributor to Front Row. She has taught creative writing at Cardiff, Warwick and Bristol Universities and has just finished a novel, Where Women Sing for which she has received a grant from Arts Council England. She has a PhD in Drama from Manchester University.