In a surprising turn of events, television presenter Hayley Palmer and The Chase star Mark 'The Beast' Labbett are set to reunite professionally, a year and a half after their romantic relationship ended abruptly.
From Romance to Reunion
Hayley, 44, revealed she will be interviewing her former partner, 59, at London's Hippodrome Casino on January 26th as part of her 'An Audience with' series. This marks a significant step forward for the pair, considering Palmer had initially blocked Labbett on all platforms following their breakup in May 2024, which occurred just days after they celebrated their one-year anniversary.
A source close to the situation explained the change of heart, stating: 'Hayley realised her hurt feelings are all in the past and wants to move on as friends. She drew up a list of people she would like to interview and he's top of her list.' It was Palmer who ultimately initiated contact again, and the two have reportedly been 'getting on well' since reconnecting.
Navigating Past Hurts
The original split was far from amicable. At the time, Hayley claimed the relationship ended because Mark 'didn't want to divorce' his ex-wife Katie, who is also his second cousin. The couple share a seven-year-old son, Lawrence. Labbett, however, publicly cited different reasons, telling The Sun: 'She's a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year, and as I said...it's me, I got old,' pointing to their 15-year age gap as a primary factor.
This public divergence in their accounts of the breakup added to the tension. Hayley previously described feeling 'blindsided' by the phone call that ended their romance, saying Mark 'lives up to his nickname' The Beast. The hurt was so profound that she admitted to finding it 'triggering' to see him on television afterwards, forcing her to change the channel during his appearance on Loose Women.
Looking Forward as Friends
The upcoming interview at the Hippodrome signifies a powerful moment of closure for both individuals. During the event, Mark Labbett is expected to 'open up about his extraordinary career', detailing his journey from competitive quizzing to becoming a household name on prime-time television.
Tickets for the event are priced from £22 to £106, offering the public a chance to witness this unique reconciliation firsthand. This professional collaboration demonstrates a mature effort to move beyond past grievances and build a new, positive dynamic focused on friendship and mutual respect, leaving the drama of their 2024 split firmly in the past.
