TV's The Beast finds a Beauty: Mark Labbett's surprising love story

That’s Mark Labbett (57), who is better known by his professional nickname The Beast, in ITV quiz show The Chase.

The Beauty is his relatively-new girlfriend, London-based shopping channel presenter, Hayley Palmer.

They met in 2022 but only went on their first date earlier this year to Dirty Dancing The Musical.

Hayley (41) jokes that she was impressed by The Beast's Toby Carvery Gold Card, rather than any other trappings of fame.

The pair first met when they attended the National Television Awards at Wembley's OVO Arena, last October.

Divorcee Mark, who stands 6ft 6ins tall, said the couple have only been on a few dates because of the distance between them.

"We get diaries out and go: 'When are we going to be physically in the same location?'." he said.

Mark is from Devon originally, so Rotherham is not an obvious home for him.

He moved to Moorgate ten years ago, explaining: "When I am not on telly, I work for the world's biggest pub quiz company Redtooth, which is based in Barlbrough.”

Hayley, from Portsmouth, is a shopping channel presenter who works for Ideal World and hosts two Sky TV chat shows.

Mark, a former maths teacher, became interested in quizzes after winning cash in them.

The former Butlins holiday camp worker has since appeared on Mastermind, University Challenge, Fifteen to One, Who Wants to Be A Millionaire? and Only Connect.