Many of us across the UK will be familiar with ITV’s most notorious game show, The Chase, and Chaser Mark Labbett.
Also known as 'The Beast', Mark joined the show in 2010 and over the years, viewers have yearned to know more about his personal life and relationships.
However, some of you may be surprised to know that Mark's other half is also a TV personality and was born and bred along the South Coast.
Hayley Palmer, 42, presents weekly music chat shows on Sky TV 365 and a segment on GB News.
She grew up in Fareham and attended Fareham Academy, formerly known as Neville Lovett School, where she discovered a love for arts and creativity.
She then went on to study a secretarial course at Fareham College.
Hayley said: “My mum told me to do pick something sensible – as mums always do, but I really found my passion in the arts, whether acting or dancing, I’m a really outgoing person so I love being creative.”
Her passion for creativity lead Hayley to join You’re a Star Theatre School in Hamble.
As part of her time there, Hayley featured on Southampton radio station, Voice FM, to promote one of the group’s new performances.
She had such a knack for radio and presenting, she was asked to come back as a permanent fixture on the show.
She added: “It's brilliant, there is something really magical about local stations like Voice. It is just so authentic to listeners, and I gained a massive boost of confidence from my time at Voice FM, it really set my career off in the right direction.
“The first time I went to the breakfast shift, the DJ I was supposed to be shadowing was ill. This meant I had to carry the whole breakfast show myself for the first time ever.
“I remember my supervisor saying: ‘Come on Hayley, you can do it’ and I was just so nervous but, thankfully, we got through it and it was such fun.”
In 2018, unhappy with the office job she had at the time, Hayley decided to take the plunge and try an internship at ITV.
She added: “I got the chance to go behind the scenes on This Morning and Loose Women and after meeting the right people, they decided I had it in me to do some presenting myself.”
Today, Hayley has two prime time shows on Sky, At Home with Hayley, which airs Wednesday nights between 7pm and 8pm and the Memory Lane 80's, which airs between 9pm and 10pm on Saturdays.
“I have had the chance to do some incredible things since dawning my presenting career. I even go to have tea with Lady Colin Campbell at her mansion.”
It was at the National Television Awards 2022 that Hayley first met with iconic ITV Chaser after realising they both had the same agent.
Hayley said Mark’s way of breaking the ice was by showing his Toby Carvery gold card.
Hayley promptly responded by claiming she could beat him in an 80s themed music quiz.
Of course, Hayley swiftly realised she was going to be no match for Mark’s 80s knowledge and the couple soon started up a romantic relationship.
Hayley said: “Mark is so down to earth, warm and lovely, we instantly hit it off. It has been challenging to now be in the public eye.
“We have seen photos of us out together appear in the Daily Mail with no clue we were being photographed.
“It is very strange, but I try not to let it bother me.”
With her presenting career now in full swing, Hayley hopes to one day become a full-time presenter on Loose Women.
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