The Chase star Mark Labbett's ex Hayley Palmer gives her verdict on his Celebs Go Dating debut following their 'traumatic' relationship and him 'refusing to divorce' his second cousin

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

Mark Labett's ex Hayley Palmer has exclusively told Daily Mail she will not be tuning in to watch her former partner make his Celebs Go Dating debut on Monday, following the end of their 'traumatic' relationship.
The TV personality, 44, and The Chase star, 59, announced their break up in May 2024, days after their one-year anniversary, with Hayley claiming that he dumped her because he 'didn't want to divorce' his ex-wife Katie, who is also his second cousin.
Mark is now back looking for love and will appear on the E4 show alongside the likes of Kerry Katona, 44, and Christine McGuinness, 37.
Hayley told Daily Mail: 'A year later, I've been able to turn past trauma into something positive. I feel like i've done a lot of glowing up. I am in a really strong, happy place. Feeling very grounded'.
Despite wishing Mark well and pointing out his 'wonderful qualities' Hayley said she had no intention of watching his hunt for Mrs Right, revealing she had moved on and was dating someone she 'saw having a future with '.
Instead she said she was planning on using her past relationship experiences to help others: 'I'm currently in the process of writing a book and coaching others who have been through tough experiences and want to change their mindset'.
Following their split Hayley claimed that she'd been left needing counselling for 'betrayal trauma' after being dumped in a three-minute phone call.
She previously told Daily Mail that she 'never in a million years' imagined Mark, AKA the Best, would agree to appear on a dating show.
But the presenter also said she was glad to see her ex following her example and starting a new life chapter, after she'd he time post break up 'pouring love and confidence' into herself.
Hayley said: 'I never thought in a million years he'd go on a dating show after such a painful and public breakup'.
She previously claimed Mark ended their romance because he didn't want to divorce ex, Katie, 32, with whom he shares seven-year-old son Lawrence.
However despite her claims Mark told The Sun: 'She's [Hayley'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.'
In 2020, Katie - who had been dating senior design engineer Scott Bate for 18 months at the time - and Mark split because their attempts at an open marriage failed.
The Beast also blamed other factors, including their 27-year age gap, the Covid-19 lockdown and his own mental health, for their eventual split.
Last year Hayley confessed to Daily Mail that she was forced to turn the TV channel over after seeing him on Loose Women as she admitted she found it 'triggering'.
She said Mark 'lives up to his nickname' after 'blindsiding' her by brutally breaking-up with her over the phone.
'It was really upsetting seeing him pop up on my screen, and I had to turn over. I didn't expect it to feel like that.
'As the last time he was on there, I was sat beside him and we were speaking about celebrating our one year anniversary and then exactly one week later my world came crashing down.'
She added: 'To be honest thinking about him with anyone just brings it all back.'
Hayley explained she was taken aback by her feeling as she continued: 'It was triggering. I didn't think it would be as I have worked really hard on my mindset and have been in a good place.'
Meanwhile The Best has has revealed he 'couldn't wait to leave' a recent date he went on because he didn't find the mystery woman 'attractive'.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz at Celebs Go Dating launch party about his current dating life, Mark said: 'You never know who you're going to find, someone who you just get on with – that's the key thing.
'I won't say who, but there's been one situation I've met someone and I'm going, "I should find them really attractive", but instead I can't wait to get away.
Asked if the woman was a celebrity, Mark responded: 'No comment.'
Mark hopes to find his perfect match, with the help of the programme's dating agents, Paul Carrick Brunson, Anna Williamson and Dr. Tara Suwinyattichaiporn.
Ironically, Mark said the experience of doing the show has taught him not to seek 'perfection'.
He said: 'If you expect that from your partner, if she goes, "You don't do that", you can't get all stroppy.
'You can argue on the point of modern dating issues that you see someone who's this, this and this, and you go, reality check.'