Exes Hayley Palmer and Mark 'The Beast' Labbett reuniting for one-night show
TV presenter Hayley Palmer will interview her ex-boyfriend Mark 'The Beast' Labbett for her An Audience With... show at London's The Hippodrome on January 26.
Hayley Palmer is "excited" to be interviewing her ex-boyfriend Mark 'The Beast' Labbett for a special An Audience With... show.
The 44-year-old TV presenter will reunite with The Chase quizzer, 60, for one night only at London's The Hippodrome on January 26 - over a year since Mark dumped Hayley in a "three-minute" phone call days after their first dating anniversary in May 2024.
Hayley exclusively told BANG Showbiz: "We're both really excited. I think it's gonna be a great night. I think Mark has an amazing story to tell.
"He's a great guy, I think he's going to be an outstanding guest, people are going to love it."
Hayley and Mark got together in May 2023 after he and his ex-wife Katie Labbett's attempts at an open marriage failed, while Mark also blamed other factors, including their 27-year age gap, the COVID-19 lockdown and his own mental health struggles, for their eventual split.
In May 2024, Hayley and Mark broke-up - with Hayley claiming at the time he dumped her because he "didn't want to divorce his ex-wife" - but Mark later told The Sun newspaper their separation was because he "got old".
But a year-and-a-half later, Hayley - who has a 16-year age gap with Mark - advertised her An Audience With... show with Mark on Instagram on November 23, and it left some of her followers confused as to why she is set to interview her ex-boyfriend.
She told BANG Showbiz: "Let's be honest, when have you seen an ex interview an ex? It gives some very special insight, I think it's quite unique.
"Perhaps we'll start a trend."
And Hayley insists she and Mark have reconciled and are good pals now.
She added: "Things are in the past now, we’re good mates, and we're just happy to do it. And like I say, that's all pushed to one side, and it's a year-and-a-half ago, and we've always got on well.
"We’re friends, we’re both doing our jobs, and we both want to make it a huge success, which I absolutely know it will be."
And it seems they will not talk about their romance in the show.
Asked if they will discuss their relationship or not, Hayley said: "Like I say, we just want to move on from that. I’m sure people want to come along because they’re quite fascinated that an ex is interviewing an ex.
"But, ultimately, we’re friends, and Mark is absolutely brilliant at what he does. He is a genius, and I salute him for that - I’m in awe of what he does, I think he is phenomenal, and I want to put him in the best light possible.
"And it’s my job as the interviewer to do that and to ensure that the audience has the best time ever - which I’m absolutely confident is going to be a 10/10 night."
However, the former couple will be happy to answer the audience's questions on the night.
Hayley said: "We’re gonna chat first of all, and the audience is welcome to ask us some questions - we are happy to answer questions.
"And there will be an actual opportunity for some of the audience members to beat The Beast!"
The Fizz member Jay Aston, 64, was Hayley's first An Audience With... guest at The Hippodrome - which went down a storm on November 15.
And as well as her celebrity guests, Hayley is thankful to the venue's owners for giving her the opportunity to do it.
She said: "There’s so much history at the Hippodrome, they used to have the talk of the town there, it’s very showbiz, and they’ve had some incredible guests there.
"So to be doing this at the Hippodrome is massive for me - it’s a dream come true."
Tickets for Hayley Palmer's An Audience With... Mark 'The Beast' Labbett - which takes place at 7pm on January 26 - start at £22.00.
They can be purchased by clicking here.
