The Chase's Mark Labbett defended by Paul Sinha after experiencing a 'breakdown' minutes before filming
(Image: ITV)

The Chase's Mark Labbett defended by Paul Sinha after 'breakdown' on hit ITV show

by · Manchester Evening News

The Chase star, Mark Labbett, known on the telly as the The Beast, has revealed he experienced a breakdown before filming an episode of the popular ITV quiz show.

Airing on weekdays at 5pm, The Chase has been a British television mainstay since its debut back in 2009. Hosted by Bradley Walsh, contestants form a team of four to compete against a profession quizzer known as the Chaser in order to win money.

Mark stars on the show alongside five other chasers, Anne Hegerty, Shaun Wallace, Jenny Ryan, Paul Sinha and Darragh Ennis. Ennis joined the show in 2020, becoming the first former contestant to do so.

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As the Daily Record reports, Mark disclosed on X that he experienced challenges before going up against a 'star' team whilst filming an episode of the show.

Mark noted that he did congratulate the winning team but insists it was 'edited out'. He wrote: "I still applauded and congratulated the team but it was edited out :(."

Mark's co-star Paul Sinha defended him in the comments, saying: “It’s easily lost we’re not robots, we’re human beings trying our best. Whatever you see on screen is a snapshot of us at an unspecified moment sometime in the last 18 months."

He continued: “We could have been under stress for any number of reasons, much of [which] may be long forgotten.”

The chaser Paul ‘'The Sinnerman'’ Sinha showed his support to co-star Mark Labbett
(Image: ITV)

As well as fans rushing to support Mark following the scenes, one fan said: "It’s the most frustrated I have seen you. On the bright side my wife and I were laughing at how grumpy you looked but in a nice way if that’s possible. All part of the twists and turns that great show provides."

As another added: "Out of curiosity, how long ago was it filmed ?? You could tell halfway through with the tone in your voice you knew that you had been beaten." as another said: “Anyone can have a bad day."

“Sorry to hear that, though was clear you weren’t yourself. Hope you’re back to your brilliant bullying best soon. You’ll always be the chaser we fear the most (well, maybe second to @anne_hegerty lol),” wrote another fan.

This comes after Mark opened up about his wages on the ITV show, telling the Daily Star: "That's the week we earn like Premier League footballers so of course I'll do it." He added: "If I could get away with it I'd purge half of them because the fewer Chasers there are, the more money I get."

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