The Chase Australia star Mark Labbett has spoken out about his split from TV presenter Hayley Palmer, revealing the reason behind their break-up.
The UK-based quizmaster known as “The Beast” ended the relationship just weeks after the couple marked their one-year anniversary with a casual meal at a Beefeater pub and a stroll along the beach.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The Beast storms off set.
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Labbett, 59, told The Sun he was the reason for the split, explaining: “It’s me, I got old.”
“Hayley is a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year. But it was me who decided to end things,” he said.
Labbett says he has since embraced single life, describing himself as a “shed man”.
“I’m a guy of a certain age who is content whether I’m in or out of a relationship,” he said.
“I’ve loved this (UK) summer, just quietly enjoying my own company.”
The long-time The Chase UK and The Chase Australia star revealed he has no plans to re-enter the dating scene, saying he feels “comfortable” without a partner after years of being single in his younger days.
And while Labbett’s direct messages are reportedly filled with interest from single women, he laughed off the attention — admitting he’s cautious when it comes to potential admirers.
“Things like, ‘I’m your number one fan’ — that’s never a good sign for me,” he said.
Also reflecting on his late-in-life fame on The Chase, Labbett said: “This job didn’t even exist until 2009. For 15 years I was a maths teacher with a proper job and that has kept me grounded.”
As for his future, the TV favourite is happy keeping things simple, saying: “I’m 59 now — slippers and a comfy chair kind of thing. I’m quite content doing my own thing, pottering around in my pyjamas.”
Labbett and Palmer met at the UK National Television Awards in 2022 before becoming a couple early the following year.
Palmer announced their split via Instagram in May, saying: “It is with regret I announce that myself and Mark have gone our separate ways.
“We had the best year together, and I truly wish him all the very best for the future. Off I go to listen to Taylor Swift.”
The couple had been together for just over a year and had posted Instagram photos to mark their anniversary, spending the day together at the beach where they spent their first date.
However, just days later, the couple hinted there were some issues in the relationship.
In an appearance on UK TV talk show Loose Women, Labbett said: “The difficult thing is, we live quite a bit apart. Obviously, I live up in Sheffield, Rotherham (and) she’s a Chelsea girl.
“We tend to look at our diaries and when we can synch up together and so the good news is we see each other every few weeks but we make the most of it when we’re together, so you get the best of both worlds.”
The Chase fan favourite Labbett hit the headlines when he lost a remarkable 63kg.
Before his relationship with Palmer, Labbett was married to his second cousin, Katie, and the pair have a son, Lawrence.