The Chase quiz ace Mark Labbett reveals fans were left disappointed when he DIDN’T go into Celebrity Big Brother

CELEBRITY Big Brother swerved an encounter with quiz ace The Beast despite a flurry of rumours suggesting The Chase TV star was entering the house.

Brainbox Mark Labbett revealed he let down legions of his loyal fans - and some of his best mates - when he didn't arrive for the reality show's star-studded launch night on Tuesday.

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The suggestions he was entering the iconic bungalow were sparked by a teaser video released ahead of the All Stars versus New Stars series, which showed a silhouette of a man who looked suspiciously similar.

Chaser Mark confessed: "My friends thought it was me, my brothers thought it was me, even I thought it was me! I have had at least two friends wanting to put a bet on me. I cannot believe I was briefly 7-1 joint favourite with Corals!"

"The Chase producers phoned my agent at the weekend and asked him if we something to tell them, especially as I am filming The Chase at Elstree this month!"

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Instead, Mark, 51, was forced to watch at home as stars including American model Jasmine Waltz, reality star Nicola McLean and ex footballer Jamie O'Hara entered the bungalow.

Yet the Oxford graduate hasn't ruled out a stint on the show.

He told : "As a working minor celeb I will consider any show if the fee is right. Five years ago, I was earning £100 a day as a supply teacher so I always keep my eye on the important things in life.

"If I went on CBB, the isolation would be my biggest problem – with my job I am a news and information junkie and I am always reading or web surfing info so I would probably suffer withdrawal symptoms from the digital world."

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Speculation was sparked by a teaser video released by the broadcaster in December.

The 19-second long clip shows the outline of a man walking into shot.

He’s accompanied by the words “cutting and callous” then, somewhat bizarrely, “Eminem”.

Fans were quick to assume it was Mark however, with one tweeting: “Marc from the Chase! I’d know that silhouette anywhere He’ll eat them alive…”

Another added: “IF THAT IS MARK LABBETT THEN I AM BUZZING OMG.”