Hayley Palmer is dating The Chase's Mark Labbett and has praised the quiz master for his "incredible" weight loss, which saw him lose a staggering 10 stone.
Speaking exclusively to OK! the TV presenter has opened up about their relationship including their first date at the beach, "world of good" trip to LA, and not putting a "label on it".
The TV presenter, 41 , is known for her show, Saturday Night with Hayley Palmer as well as being an entertainment correspondent for the likes of GB News and ITV.
She first met Mark, 57, who is also known by his nickname The Beast on ITV's The Chase, last year at the National Television Awards.
The pair "instantly got on" and Hayley said the first time they met "Mark showed me his Toby Carvery card and I was really trying to steal it" and said that’s how they got talking and laughing. She added that it was an evening she opted to wear flat shoes so looked "really tiny" next to the 6-foot plus Beast.
They went on to spend time together "just as friends" including when they attended the press night for Dirty Dancing in January this year. They bonded over their love for Maltesers, found similar interests and "were just laughing and having a nice time" Hayley shared.
Asking when they had their first official date, she replied: "I'd say probably when Mark came down to Portsmouth, which is where I am from.
"He came down, we had something to eat, walked along the beach and we thought ‘Yeah we’re really enjoying each other’s company’ so I guess that changed things a little bit". The TV presenter said the 'first date' in May this year was "really nice, we get on really well and Mark is a very kind and lovely guy."
She added: "To be honest, there’s no pressure at all, we don’t put a label on it.
"It's very early days, but we get on really well and we’re just taking things very slowly and we’re just really enjoying each other’s company."
The Chase star was previously married to nurse Katie, 27 years his junior, who he met online in 2010. The pair got married in 2014 and just months later discovered they were actually second cousins - they split in 2020 and share a six-year-old son, Lawrence.
Mark was once a 5XL and has since lost an impressive 10 stone which Hayley said is "absolutely incredible." She went on to say: "I personally think he's done incredibly well.
"Obviously, he does have weight issues so I support him all the way, we went to a local supermarket in LA and we make healthy choices together.
"I support him and he supports me, I just think he's amazing how he has lost 10 stone, it's absolutely incredible.!
She added: "I support him moving forward with it of course."
The loved-up pair recently spent "some really good quality time together" in LA, where Mark is currently working. Although the quizzer has been working "really long hours every day" they were able to spend evenings and weekends together which Hayley said was "really great for our relationship."
She went on to say: "It was just really easy, we walked around hand in hand and felt really relaxed in LA, so I think it’s done us a world of good being out here."
Sharing what they got up to while in LA Hayley said: "We went to the Grove which is a shopping mall, which was lovely. We got his and her face creams and they rate them - I don’t know if Mark has used his face cream but I’ve used mine."
The TV star went on to say that they visited the Cheesecake Factory: "We just had pancakes and waffles which was really yummy, Mark couldn’t finish his pancakes, he couldn’t get through them... he was defeated."
Hayley returned to the UK at the end of last week, reflecting back on their trip she said: "It was just a really lovely experience, you never know when you go away with someone, friends or anyone and it was really laid back and we got to know each other."
Describing Mark, she said: "He’s a really honest guy - he’s honest about everything and I’ve got to say he does give the best cuddles as well.
"He’s very down to earth, considerably down earth, he’s super kind, very thoughtful and very considerate and really supported of my career and like a big teddy bear."
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