ITV The Chase star Mark Labbett shares painful health diagnosis as he struggles to get up from chair

Mark Labbett
-Credit: (Image: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images)


The Chase star Mark Labbett has opened up about a new health condition he has been diagnosed with. The ITV quiz master, known as The Beast, revealed he is struggling with everyday tasks due to early on-set athritis.

Mark, 59, told The Sun he was struggling to get up from a chair and also could no longer pick up his pet dog. He said: "I've also got early on-set arthritis, it's not bad but it's in my right hip, I only notice it, I've got a loss of power from getting up from a chair.

"I can't do it without putting my arm down to give me a tiny little boost and I can't pick up the dog from the ground - I just don't have the strength." Mark also has Type 2 diabetes.

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The Chase star was diagnosed in 2016 after a nurse noticed marks on his legs. It was a turning point that inspired him to make significant lifestyle changes and go on a massive health kick.

He has dropped from 29 stone to 19 stone, and hopes to reach 17 stone soon. Mark revealed the weight loss had had a huge impact on his health, saying: "I was diagnosed back in 2016 and by 2018 I almost got un-diabetic. I must confess, I have a habit to cheat and reward myself, it's my sin.

"I don't drink, don't smoke, don't do drugs, don't gamble, don't have any loose women in my life. Everyone's got a sin and mine happens to be sugar but I didn't realise how bad."

As part of World Diabetes Day , Mark opened up about life with Type 2, and his work with diabetes management company, Dexcom, whose Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) device he uses to allow him to see his glucose readings in real-time without having to painfully prick his fingers.

Speaking about his Dexcom CGM device, Mark said: "It's a bit of peace of mind, it beeps if your glucose levels get too high and also beeps if your glucose level gets too low.

"It's a great motivator, for remembering to take your medication and for thinking about what you eat."