'The Chase' Star Mark Labbett Splits From Wife After Open Marriage Fails

The Chase star Mark Labbett has revealed he's split from his wife Katie after they failed to make an open marriage work.

The TV quizzing pro, 55, announced the split from his wife, 28, following seven years of marriage, adding that she is now dating her lover, Scott Bate.

In a candid new interview, the star, nicknamed 'The Beast', told The Sun: "There was never any deceit on Katie's part but it's got to the point now where I realise it is better for us to go our separate ways and remain friendly.

"I just want everyone to know what's what and that we are all happy."

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Mark and Katie met in 2010 on Facebook, and got together in 2012. The couple then got engaged in October the next year, and tied the knot 12 months later, at Arundel Cathedral in West Sussex.

They later found out they were second cousins - a fact they weren't aware of when they first got together.

The couple welcomed their son three years ago.

After the news broke that Katie had been dating Scott while still married to Mark, the pair tried to make their marriage work regardless, with Mark agreeing to turn a blind eye to her romance because he wanted "the mother of my child to be happy".

But Mark said her relationship with senior design engineer lover Scott Bate, 30 - which has been going on for 18 months - eventually got in the way.

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Mark added: "When Katie first came clean to me about her boyfriend, I'd had an inkling.

"But right from the start, my attitude was quite pragmatic - this was spilt milk, what could we do about the situation to make it OK?"

He added that because they had a "family" together he wasn't willing to "throw that away lightly," and had to take that and other "considerations" into account.

However, it wasn't just Scott which caused the relationship to end, as he also blamed his hectic work schedule, being away from home a lot and their 27 year age difference.

"I just want everyone to know what's what and that we are all happy," he concluded.

As long as both Mark and Katie are happy, that's the main thing!

Topics: the chase, Celebrity News

Joanna Freedman

Joanna is a journalist at Tyla with a particular interest in highlighting women's issues and telling inspiring first person stories. She's also their resident foodie, and loves covering exciting new beauty launches, too. Contact her at [email protected].

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