This week, viewers are treated to double the quizzing action as The Chasers appear on ITV twice nightly, with The Chase at 5pm and Beat The Chasers at 9pm. The formidable quiz brains, known for their brutal nicknames from host Bradley Walsh, such as 'Frosty Knickers' and 'Sarcasm in a Suit', typically work alone but are now teaming up to face a solo challenger.
Before their rise to fame, each Chaser had a distinct career path. Mark Labbett, known as The Beast, originally worked as a PE and maths supply teacher in Newport, South Wales, after studying Mathematics at Oxford and obtaining a PGCE from Exeter University. He also gained legal qualifications from the University of Glamorgan. His quizzing interest began at a Butlins holiday camp, where he quadrupled his wages by playing quiz machines.
Labbett's television career took off after appearing on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? in 2006, winning £32,000. He later joined The Chase in the UK and also appeared on American and Australian versions. In his personal life, he married Katie in 2014, only to discover they are second cousins. The couple had a son, Lawrence, but Katie had an affair with engineer Scott Bate. Despite attempting an open marriage, the relationship ended during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the age gap cited as a factor.
