The Chase’s Mark Labbett plans to meet wife Katie’s boyfriend Scott after building relationship on the phone

THE Chase star Mark Labbett has revealed he's planning to meet his wife Katie's boyfriend Scott.

As revealed by The Sun, the TV quizzer, nicknamed The Beast, is leaving Katie so she can move on with her lover after their open marriage failed.

Throughout lockdown, Mark, 55, has built up a relationship on the phone with her lover - senior design engineer Scott Bate - so they can be on good terms for his son.

Katie told The Sun: “Scott and I are together now, and Mark knows everything.

"They’ve spoken on the phone and I’m planning on introducing them properly soon.

“They only met briefly about two years ago.”

Mark interjects: “I couldn’t pick him out from a line-up.” Katie continued: “Now I just want to have a normal relationship, no lies.

“I want everyone to know what’s what and that we are all happy. I just want Mark to be happy.”

Mark added: “There was never any deceit on Katie’s part, but obviously our son has mentioned Scott’s name quite a few times.

“Each time he does it, Katie looks a bit sheepish.

“My only concern is that Scott’s good with him, which he appears to be. We’ve started speaking and are beginning to chat more and more.

“We’ve spoken about some of the bigger things, and Katie knows what my red lines are, and I know hers. So this way, nobody is shocked or surprised.”

Mark and Katie confirmed their separation after spending seven years wed — blaming their 27-year age gap and life in the Covid-19 lockdown for their troubles.

The star first met Katie, his second cousin, via Facebook in 2010.

They got together in 2012, going for drinks on their first date after Mark, who boasts an IQ of 151 — “genius is 150”, he adds modestly — invited her to watch a celebrity Chase special.

They got engaged in October the next year and married 12 months later at Arundel Cathedral in West Sussex.

But their relationship first showed signs of strain after their son’s birth.