Mark Labbett – also known as ‘The Beast’ – has revealed he has been axed from The Chase US for ‘no reason’.
The 56-year-old Chase star – who has featured the UK, US and Australian version of the show – admitted he was ‘gutted’ after not being invited back on the series.
The quiz genius previously participated in the ABC channel series, but confirmed to fans online that a new line-up was selected and he wasn’t part of it.
Oh no! Mark Labbett – also known as ‘The Beast’ – has revealed he has been axed from The Chase US for ‘no reason’
He wrote about how disappointed he was and couldn’t give fans an explanation for the decision: ‘No they just didn’t renew me. No reason was offered.’
The news came from the Chase US’s account as they tweeted ahead of a new series: ‘New season. New Chasers.
‘Victoria Groce, Brandon Blackwell, and Buzzy Cohen join Brad Rutter and James Holzhauer on May 3 when #TheChase returns.’
The TV star replied replied: ‘Gutted to not be invited back but really excited at the new lineup. Am expecting Brandon and Victoria to wow America :).’
Sad news: The Chase star – who has featured the UK, US and Australian version of the show – admitted he was ‘gutted’ after not being invited back on the series
Proving there are no hard feeling torwards the new arrivals, he added: ‘They will be fantastic 🙂 Bon chance!’
New Yorker Brandon has appeared on the UK’s University Challenge while Victoria – widely regarded as among the greatest quizzers – was recommended by Mark.
On Thursday Mark – who has dropped 10 stone over the past year – was back in The Beast mode as the team filmed new episodes of Beat The Chasers in the UK.
He took to Instagram and shared a picture of him and Shaun ‘Dark Destroyer’ Wallace on the set of the show in their regular clothes.
Mark wrote: ‘Be afraid, be very afraid :)’ tagging in his 61-year-old co-star.
Friends: Mark took to Instagram and shared a picture of him and Shaun ‘Dark Destroyer’ Wallace on the set of the show
Earlier in the day, The Chase announced on Instagram that Anne Hegerty won’t be returning for the next series of Beat The Chasers.
The Governess – who has tested positive for Covid – tweeted: ‘Unfortunately I’ve contracted Covid-19 so won’t be filming this series of #BeatTheChasers.’
Tagging in The Chase Australia’s Issa Schultz, she added: ‘The fantastic @Issa25 will be stepping in for me and I’m looking forward to watching the series when it’s on air later this year.
‘I feel fine, but I’m still positive! (in all respects).’
Gutted: Earlier in the day, The Chase announced on Instagram that Anne Hegerty won’t be returning for the next series of Beat The Chasers due to Covid-19
Mark recently hit the headlines as he has undergone an incredible weight transformation – dropping 10 stone.
He recently revealed on Loose Women that he’s lost a staggering five trouser sizes by cutting down on sugar and carbs.
He explained that he was advised by a friend not to have a gastric band because of how he gets his calories from sugar, which is hard to digest.
Mark also credited his four-year-old son for his weight loss, saying: ‘The principal thing is running after a hyperactive toddler when nurseries have been shut.
Wow! Slimmed-down The Chase star Mark ‘The Beast’ Labbett showed off his incredible 10st weight loss in a beaming shirtless mirror selfie on Thursday (pictured right in 2017, pre-weight loss)
‘I’m sure every woman knows this, how do you keep up with them? I found at the end of the evening instead of going to the fridge for late night snacking, all I could do was collapse on the bed,’ he said.
Mark shares his four-year-old son with estranged wife Katie, 28, who he married in 2014.
They officially announced their split in August 2020 and Mark revealed they’d split after seven years of marriage so she could be free to date her lover, after their plans to have an open marriage failed to work.
It was revealed at the time Katie, who works as a nurse, had been seeing her senior design engineer lover Scott Bate, 30, for 18 months.
He said: ‘Well let me put it this way I don’t think it’s possible to do any kind of dating while in lockdown, let’s say I’m married to my work. My priority is on my son.’
Split: Mark shares his four-year-old son with estranged wife Katie, 28, who he married in 2014. They officially announced their split in August 2020 and he revealed they’d split so she could be free to date her lover, after their plans to have an open marriage failed to work
