Mark Labbett, the towering quizmaster known as The Beast on The Chase, made waves with his debut on Celebs Go Dating, but not for the reasons he might have hoped. The episode, which aired on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, showcased Mark stepping boldly into the uncharted waters of romance, only to stumble into a viral moment that left viewers stunned—and sparked rumors of his dramatic exit from the show.
For a man who dominates trivia with ease, navigating the complexities of dating proved to be a far greater challenge for Mark. Known for his razor-sharp intellect, the 60-year-old admitted he’s “been single for most of my life” and finds “human signals much harder than trivia.” His candid confession set the stage for a date that quickly became the talk of the internet. During his first outing with Natalie, Mark’s inexperience was painfully evident. Struggling to stay engaged, he was caught on camera yawning mid-conversation and, in a moment that left viewers in stitches, mistaking a candle for his drink. Show narrator Rob Beckett couldn’t resist poking fun, quipping that Mark was “catching 40 winks whilst eating” after he briefly closed his eyes during the date.
The blunder didn’t go unnoticed. Social media erupted, with clips of Mark’s candle-drinking attempt and sleepy demeanor going viral on TikTok. Fans and critics alike were quick to weigh in, with some calling it a hilarious misstep and others questioning whether The Beast was cut out for the dating scene.
Despite the awkward start, dating coach Anna Williamson remains a staunch supporter of Mark’s casting. Speaking to the Record, she praised the E4 production team for bringing him on board, calling him a “fantastic signing.” Anna admitted the viral moments were expected, chuckling as she recalled Mark’s candle fiasco. “I think that shows how much work we need to do with him,” she said, but quickly added that the team is committed to championing him. Intriguingly, she hinted at a surprising twist to Mark’s journey, teasing that “how he finishes the series will be very, very surprising to people, in a good way.”
Could this mean a redemption arc for The Beast? Or did the mounting pressure of viral infamy push him to walk away from the show altogether?
Speculation about Mark’s departure from Celebs Go Dating began swirling after sources close to the production hinted at behind-the-scenes tension. The viral clip, while amusing to viewers, reportedly left Mark feeling exposed and out of his depth. Insiders suggest that the intense scrutiny, combined with his self-professed struggles with social cues—Mark has shared that he is “a little bit on the spectrum”—may have led to a breaking point. “Facts are easy, people are complicated,” he said before his debut, a sentiment that seemed to foreshadow the challenges he faced.
While E4 has yet to confirm whether Mark has officially left the show, the buzz around his potential exit has only fueled interest in his journey. Will The Beast roar back with newfound confidence, or has the dating world proven too daunting for the quiz king?
Mark’s appearance on Celebs Go Dating isn’t his first brush with romance—or heartbreak. He was previously married to Katie, a woman 27 years his junior, from 2014 to 2020. Their love story began on Facebook in 2010, but it wasn’t until 2012, when Mark invited her to a celebrity special of The Chase, that their connection deepened. After their marriage ended, Mark found love again with Sky TV presenter Hayley Palmer. The couple enjoyed a whirlwind romance, celebrating their one-year anniversary in May 2024. However, their happiness was short-lived, as Hayley announced their split shortly after, sharing her heartbreak on social media with a nod to Taylor Swift and a broken-heart emoji. “We had the best year together, and I truly wish him all the very best for the future,” she wrote.
As the dust settles on Mark’s viral dating disaster, fans are left wondering whether he’ll bounce back or bow out. Anna Williamson’s cryptic comments suggest there’s more to his story, but the question remains: can The Beast conquer the dating world, or will the pressures of public scrutiny prove too much? One thing is certain—Mark Labbett’s foray into Celebs Go Dating has been anything but ordinary, and the world will be watching to see what happens next.