'The Chase' star Mark Labbett opens up on split from wife

The Chase star Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett has said he and his wife get on well since their split.

The 56-year-old star of the ITV game show announced in August 2020 that he was separating from nurse Katie who is 27 year his junior and with whom he shares a son.

Labbett told The Sun: "I’m single now. We are separated but we get on really well, we co-parent. I promised to look after her and I promised to look after my kid."

Read more: The Chase: 10 things you never knew about The Chasers

He added: “I’m too busy for a relationship.”

Labbett met Katie, his second cousin, through Facebook in 2010. They got together in 2012 and married in 2014.

They blamed their age gap and the pressures of the coronavirus pandemic for their split, after eight years together.

The quiz star also revealed he has recently hired a bodyguard after receiving unwanted physical advances from female fans.

He said: “Every gig I get sexually assaulted. I felt violated.

Watch: Mark Labbett storms off The Chase after losing

“I’ve got a guy I work with now and he keeps an eye for me and will detect when something like that is going to happen.”

“I do a lot of student gigs and I get the young ladies who are only 19 or 20, I say, ‘love, leave me alone’."

Labbett rose to fame on The Chase in 2009.

His ex-wife revealed she had never watched the show but got in touch with him on social media after her grandmother mentioned he was starring on the show.

Earlier this year Labbett apologised to viewers after storming off the show and punching a wall.

The Chaser apparently saw red after he was beaten to the grand prize.

Read more: The Chase's Anne Hegerty learns she is related to the Queen

Saying “I’m off”, he walked off set and whacked a wall on his way out, leaving host Bradley Walsh apologising to any children who might have been watching.

However, the quizzer later said sorry on Twitter.