The Chase star Mark Labbett opens up about relationship with glam girlfriend, 42, & says I can’t believe I’m with her’

WITH his encyclopaedic knowledge and piercing glare, The Chase star Mark Labbett regularly leaves contestants on the TV quiz show shaken and stirred.

But Mark, styled as James Bond for our photoshoot with girlfriend Hayley Palmer, is so bowled over by his glamorous lover that he is often the one left in awe.

Oxford maths graduate Mark, 58, admitted: “I mean, look at her.

“I keep finding myself going, ‘Hang on, we’re actually going out?’.

“I don’t want to make her blush, but 15 years ago I was a maths teacher, I was 29st.

“I’m a very, very lucky man.

“I’ve got the job I was born to do and, in Hayley, someone to share it all with.”

His romance with GB News entertainment reporter Hayley, 42, a statuesque 6ft 1in in heels, has gone from strength to strength since they started dating nine months ago.

The 6ft 7in colossus of the team of quiz pro Chasers on the ITV show, who contestants must beat to win money, says of life with Hayley: “The most important rule of all is we get on really well.

“But our golden rule is we don’t share chips.

“There might be the odd occasion with a sharing platter, but we’ve had the argument.

“I’m a big believer in truffle and Parmesan fries whereas Hayley’s a chunky chips girl.”

Mark — nicknamed The Beast for his surname and towering stature — recently visited Portsmouth to meet Hayley’s parents.

And she has won the seal of approval from Mark’s fellow Chasers, including fearsome Anne Hegerty, known to viewers as The Governess.

Mark says: “We recently spent three nights in Southampton close to her parents in Portsmouth, so we went to meet mummy and daddy Palmer and saw Suki the dog.

“It was the first time I’d met them and they were very good about it.

“There was none of this, ‘Are you good enough for my daughter?’

“They were just very, very nice.

“They can see where I am, what I do for a living, and we’re both just really happy together, which everyone can see.”

Hayley adds: “The reaction from my friends and family has been lovely.

“They’re all just happy I’m happy.

“It’s the same with my parents.

“I’ve met the other Chasers — Anne really has made me feel so welcome.

“We’ve been out together and get on so well.”

Mark is now determined not to let any negative reaction spoil the party.

He says: “Inevitably you get things where people give opinions.

“But it’s often based on their lives.

“Forgive me, but people that have been through a divorce or separation tend to be a bit more negative.”

Mark is based in Rotherham, close to the five-year-old son he shares with ex-wife Katie, while Hayley lives in London.

With their work taking them all over the country, the pair have to get their diaries out to make plans to see each other.

But they have already discussed moving in together.

Mark says: “I would unashamedly say that if I was to move to London it would be with a strong view to Hayley moving in with me.

“There’s no way I would check out a flat without her being there with me.”

But Hayley chips in: “If we did move in together, there would be two bathrooms!”

For now, though, they are happy to travel to see each other.

Hayley says: “Mark will be like, ‘These are the dates I’m free’, and I’m like, ‘Great, me too — see you in a couple of weeks’.

“It works because we can look forward to seeing each other, and when we do it’s so lovely. It’s quality time.”

She adds of their work-life juggle: “We’re both grafters and, aside from my parents, he is my biggest cheerleader.”

Mark says: “We have a similar sense of humour and, touch wood, rarely a cross word, although Hayley always says she’s the funnier one.”

But the pair insist their lifestyle is not flashy.

Mark adds: “We don’t do showbizzy-type things.

“We have had a couple of trips to the Oxo Tower restaurant in London.

“But a couple of weeks ago we were meant to go out in town and decided we just wanted to go to the local pub and have an early night.

“Sometimes you just want a night watching bad TV and a cuddle before falling asleep.”

Mark will join his Chase colleagues, and show host Bradley Walsh later this month to film the upcoming 16th series of the hit teatime quiz, which launched in 2009.

Spin-off show Beat The Chasers is also set to air soon.

‘Such a gentleman’

He says: “I do love it that a lot of people refer to me as ‘The Chaser’ rather than ‘a Chaser’.

“I love my colleagues to pieces but I’m The Chaser, and don’t you guys forget it!

“I say we benefit from being the best show nobody had heard of for many years.

“But we got word of mouth and families began watching.

“You can’t go wrong with a good quiz at tea time, and it’s gradually built up.”

Bradley has bagged a new role hosting the Gladiators reboot with son Barney, 25, on BBC One, sparking fears he could quit The Chase.

Mark says: “I worry Bradley might stop one day.

“Anne is terrified, the others are worried.

“In the same way Holly Willoughby resigned from This Morning, ITV would be inundated with people wanting to do it if, God forbid, Bradley retired.”

But Mark is keen to explore new opportunities — and do Strictly Come Dancing.

He says: “I’d love to learn a new skill.

“Speaking to Russell Grant, he says he was the fittest he’s ever been when he did Strictly.

“I wouldn’t want to win but I’d give it a go.”

Mark is now in better shape than ever, having lost 9st since starting a “complete nutrition overhaul” in 2020.

He says with a laugh: “My lungs appreciate it.

“I’ve lost eight inches off my chest.

“Hayley is getting me to the gym. I love weights.”

But Hayley insists her fella is still a big softie, and calls him her “cuddly teddy bear”.

He says: “There are worse things to be called.”

Hayley adds: “He does little things that mean a lot.

“The other morning, when I had to get up at 4am for a TV appearance, he got up as well and took my bags to the car.

“Even the driver was like, ‘He’s such a gentleman’.

“He does little things that go a long way, caring things.”

Mark is smitten too.

He says: “It’s no surprise, but a guy who is 6ft 7in likes a girl with really long legs — and one who is prepared to show them off.”