TV presenter Hayley Palmer has admitted she is undergoing therapy for “betrayal trauma” following her split from The Chase star Mark Labbett, aka The Beast.
The 42-year-old star told the My Dirty Laundry podcast that she’s been suffering from “nightmares and flashbacks” weeks after Mark, 59, broke up with her in a three-minute phone call that left her completely blindsided.
Hayley said that despite Mark assuring her he was divorcing his wife Katie, 32, whom he split from in 2020 and with whom he has a son, he admitted he had changed his mind.
Hayley said: The way he did it, his voice still haunts me. I’m in therapy because someone said to me, “What you went through is a betrayal trauma.”
“They said, ‘Are you having flashbacks and nightmares and anxiety?’ I said, ‘Yeah, yeah, yeah, that’s what I’m getting.’ It’s just the shock to your body of it coming out of nowhere.”
Hayley said her relationship with Mark was the happiest of her life – they had just celebrated their one-year anniversary – but his final words to her were “chilling”.
She said: ‘He rang me and said, “How are you? Are you on GB News on Saturday?” I said, “Yes, I’ve got a booking, I can’t wait”… I told him everything.
“And then he said, ‘Okay, this isn’t going to be easy to tell you, but you were right. I don’t want a divorce.'”
Hayley said she put the phone down and was so shocked that she couldn’t feel her body and had a full-blown panic attack.
She immediately blocked Mark on all channels and has not spoken to him since.
Unlike the other relationships she was in, she felt there were no warning signs and the shock this brought left her with low self-esteem.
She said, ‘I wish we could just sit together and say, “Look, this is the situation. Can we make it work? OK, let’s stick together. Let’s make a statement together.”‘
‘Because it all happened and I felt completely alone. I felt really scared. I’m a positive person, but I couldn’t get out of bed because I felt so down.
‘I thought counseling would be a weak thing to do, and that it would be embarrassing, but it really helps me to know that others have been through the same thing.
‘And that I’m not alone and that it’s okay to have nightmares, that’s what happens.
“This was true love and I poured all my love into him. I put him on a pedestal – but now I have to pour that love into myself.”
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MailOnline has contacted a spokesperson for Mark Labbett for comment.
Although she looks back on the relationship fondly, Hayley says she was very disappointed that Mark posted a message shortly after their split saying he was feeling great.
The quizmaster posted a photo on social media of himself eating soup and showing off his slim body, but he has since deleted the photo.
The English-born star then revealed that he’s been on a health kick following his split, writing: “Gym. Nutrition. Feels good to be The Beast.”
Hayley commented, “That really hurt me. I’m not going to lie. Everyone sent it to me.
“I was just trying to get myself to the gym. Even just like that was a big step to get back. I was trying to get my head back on track…
“And yes, that really hit home. I thought it was really insensitive and I don’t think he thought it through. I’m his biggest cheerleader when it comes to his healthy eating, but that really didn’t go down well.”
However, Hayley said that despite everything that has happened, she only has fond memories of her time with Mark and wants to help others in the same situation.
She said: ‘I personally have nothing bad to say about him. He wasn’t The Beast. He was like a nice, sweet gentleman to me, which just makes it worse. It’s just such a shame.
‘I’ve been working so hard on myself, but now I’m spending every morning mentally picking myself up and working on my mindset to be able to deal with it.
“I still have moments where I just walk back to my apartment and burst into tears. I miss him so much. But it gets easier every day and I get stronger every day.
‘I’m really lucky to have so many lovely people around me. They’ve helped me through it and I want to help people who are in the same situation as me.’
Hayley also said that there is no chance of her and Mark getting back together, despite how much she loves him.
She said, “I’ve always seen the good in people.
“But I don’t give second chances either. So once I heard those words from him, I would never forgive that, because I’ve always been strong.”
And as for dating other people, Hayley said she’s already had some hot guys slide into her DMs, so when she feels ready… “keep an eye out.”
She added: ‘I still have hope that there is someone out there for me. Maybe I’m misled, but that’s true.’
To listen to the full interview, check out: The My Dirty Laundry podcast.