Mark Labbett set for Strictly and has new dancer girlfriend for help

Mark Labbett ‘not sure how’ he pulled off weight loss

The Chase star Mark Labbett is keen to get on the Strictly Come Dancing floor, according to his new girlfriend.

Presenter Hayley Palmer, who has been dating Mark, 57, for five months, says she could help the quizmaster compete for the Glitterball as she’s a former dancer.

Speaking of the potential opportunity, she said: “He really wants to do Strictly and I used to be a dancer as well, so I’d be able to help him.”

The rumoured 2023 line-up so far includes Angela Rippon, Nigel Harman, Ade Adepitan, Ellie Leach and Angela Scanlon, however, no names have been confirmed by BBC bosses yet.

Mark has previously said his weight was a key factor in him avoiding shows such as Strictly and I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! but he’s now shed a very impressive 10 stone.

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The Chase star, who is known as The Beast on the show, dropped the pounds after his battle with diabetes encouraged him to change his diet.

Mark’s girlfriend added of his transformation to The Sun: “He looks incredible. I’m so proud of him. He looks really good.”

She went on to say he was the “sweetest, kindest person”, who is also “such a gentleman”.

The couple met in October at the National Television Awards at Wembley’s OVO Arena and she asked him out on their first date at the end of January.

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“It’s still early days but we are both really happy,” she added. “It’s been such a lovely whirlwind.”

Hayley is The Chase star’s first known girlfriend following his split from wife Katie in 2020.

In the same year, Mark discussed potentially signing up for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! after his co-star Anne Hegerty took part.

Speaking to Express.co.uk, he said he’d be up for the challenge, but feared having a lack of food in camp would make him angry.

“The problem is when people ask me this, I say listen after three weeks in the jungle, cannibalism is on the cards,” he spilled.

“My dad was a butcher in the meat trade, I know how to butcher a carcass, so somebody better not annoy me in the jungle, especially if they muck up a food challenge!”

He added it would be better to do the show when he was “lighter” in weight, revealing his target was 19 stone at the time.

Now fitter and thinner, could we be seeing him on the dance floor?

Earlier this month, he told the publication: “I really, really, really would like to do Strictly Come Dancing. Now we’ve got the weight down I’d love to do that.”

Strictly bosses are expected to begin revealing the names of contestants taking part in August.

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