Celebs Go Dating's Mark Labbett strikes up unlikely friendship with glam female co-star 29-years younger than him
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YOU would hardly think he is her type but Love Islander Olivia Hawkins has struck up an unlikely friendship with Celebs Go Dating co-star Mark Labbett.
Despite their 29-year age gap, she says the pair have become close pals since joining the line-up for the E4 show's 14th series which starts tonight.
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Olivia Hawkins has struck up an unlikely friendship with Celebs Go Dating co-star Mark Labbett
Credit: Channel4
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Mark and Olivia have become close pals since joining the line-up for the E4 show's 14th series
Credit: Channel4
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Celebs Go Dating from left: Mark Labbett, Olivia Hawkins, Louis Russell, Jon Lee, Kerry Katona, Donna Preston, Sam Prince and Christine McGuinness
And Olivia, 30, reckons 59-year-old Mark, nicknamed The Beast on ITV1 quiz show The Chase, is nothing like his TV moniker when you meet him in real life.
Olivia, who is 5ft 4in to Mark's 6ft 6in, says: 'Who would have thought Mark 'The Beast' Labbett would be mates with Olivia from Love Island? You couldn't write it. But when he first entered the show, I was his first interaction and we hit it off.
'As soon as he walked in, I fell in love with him.
'He is just the sweetest, kindest . . . he's so tall but he's a teddy bear. He's so thoughtful. He's a puppy rather than a beast.
'There's so many elements to Mark that people will watch and just fall in love with.
'That is the beauty of this show — you get to see people out of their natural habitat. You get to see Mark dating, which you'd never get to see on The Chase.'
The quizzer has shed TEN STONE over the past few years, as part of a lifestyle overhaul — and reckons this has made it easier attracting women.
Talking about his weight loss, he says: 'It puts a spring in your step, for sure. It helps confidence. As a result, I can chat to just about anyone.
'I had what I called the four-foot rule when at my heaviest, in that no pretty girl would want to let you within four feet of her. It meant you never got really close to pretty people because on the outside looking in, it wasn't good.
'The difference now, compared to over the years . . . you're far more confident of making small talk with people and feeling comfortable in just about anybody's company.'
All those hours in the gym have been worth it, then, Mark.
EXCL The Chase's Mark Labbett reveals he was forced to quit date after shock health scare
DONNA: MY DATE WAS ONE BIG CON
COMIC Donna Preston reveals her love life hasn't been a barrel of laughs – she once unwittingly dated a murderer.
The Celebrity Big Brother housemate went on a date with a man she had met online and thought it was going well, until he ghosted her.
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Donna Preston reveals her love life hasn't been a barrel of laughs – she once unwittingly dated a murderer
Credit: Channel4
She later discovered why – he had been jailed.
Donna said: 'My dating experience has been quite problematic. I went on a date with a murderer. That was the first time I experienced dating apps. I was like, 'Oh, great, I've got a match, let's go on a date with him tonight'. So I ended up meeting him.
'We had a couple of drinks and I couldn't meet him the week after, and then didn't hear from him again.
'He ended up being in the newspaper.
'I opened it and there was his face. He's in prison, he's a murderer. I got a lucky escape.'
Not wrong there.
PERHAPS NOT LAST NOEL . .
ITV may have halted Noel Edmonds' latest comeback but his Kiwi Adventure series could be revived elsewhere.
I revealed last week the former Deal Or No Deal host's three-parter about his life in New Zealand, which aired in June, would not be renewed.
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Noel Edmonds' latest comeback may have been halted by ITV but his Kiwi Adventure series could be revived elsewhere
Credit: Instagram
But rival streamers may yet take over the show.
A TV insider said: 'ITV may have opted against making more series but there's certainly interest from other streamers.
'They believe Noel's show has plenty more to offer and there's every chance it may be resurrected.'
His River Haven estate has also been hit by flooding in recent months, forcing him to close his pub, vineyard and wellness centre.
Viewers who watched the series – still streaming on ITVX – saw Noel and wife Liz turn their estate into a popular attraction in their community.
Hopefully it's not the last we hear from them.
FAIERS PLAY
IT'S 15 years since sisters Sam and Billie Faiers found fame on Towie, and both have had multiple spin-off series for ITV2.
Now they're back on the channel for Sam & Billie: Sister Act, which begins later this month.
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Sisters Sam and Billie Faiers found fame on Towie 15 years ago
Credit: Getty
Sam says: 'We live only an hour away from each other, but having six children between us and being super busy, everything we do, we don't see each other that much. But since we've been filming again, we've become closer as sisters.'
Billie teased there are highs and lows in the run, adding: 'We film it all, that's what everyone likes. You don't want to hide things, you can't polish everything, there's the bad stuff and the tears.'
KERRY'S FAN OF ACTING
KERRY KATONA dreams of becoming an actress – but fears that her wild past has made her unemployable.
The former Atomic Kitten singer also believes her OnlyFans side hustle hasn't done her any favours when it comes to impressing casting agents.
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Kerry Katona dreams of becoming an actress – but fears that her wild past has made her unemployable
Credit: Channel4
But there's no chance she's going to pack in her X-rated antics on the saucy platform, as she makes too much cash.
Kerry says: 'I'm a fantastic actress. That is something I really enjoy, is acting.
'But unfortunately, my name holds me back in the casting world in England.
'I don't even know if it's the OnlyFans, but I'll never give that up as long as I'm making the money I'm making.
'Why would I?
'I'm selling a fantasy. That's all I'm doing. I'll keep doing that before I'm tripping on me nipples . . . which I already am!'
Hollywood doesn't know what it is missing.
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