Hayley Palmer has explained the reason behind her shock split from The Chase star Mark Labbett as she called him ‘beastly’. Hayley, 42, revealed what was said between the pair in a devastating phone call that ended their relationship.

Hayley said it was a ‘complete shock’ when the star, known as The Beast in the ITV quiz, ditched her days after celebrating their one-year anniversary. She explained that he quit, claiming it was because he didn’t want to divorce his former partner Katie.

Mark had split from Katie, 31, who is also his second cousin, after being unfaithful to a younger man for more than a year. Hayley, an entertainment reporter for Sky, told The Sun on Sunday that she was heartbroken.

read more Gordon Ramsay ‘nearly died’ in a ‘very bad’ accident, leaving him with horrific injuries

She revealed that Mark, 58 – who shares a seven-year-old son with Katie – had suggested they move in together ahead of their unexpected split. But they split after a crushing phone call on May 24, just days after she inquired about his divorce proceedings.

Hayle claims Mark told her: “I don’t think we should see each other anymore. You were right, I don’t want a divorce.”

An emotional Hayley added: “He was spending time with his son and we had a chat about me going to a water park with them. Then he said, “I don’t know how to tell you this, but you were right. I don’t want to divorce my ex-wife.”

“The shock of the way he said it was so brutally cold and not the Mark I know.” She said she felt like he was “cold as ice” and hung up the phone.