The Chase's Mark Labbett makes heartbreaking admission on why he split from ex-girlfriend Hayley Palmer

The Chase star Mark Labbett has opened up on the end of his relationship with TV presenter Hayley Palmer.

The couple called it quits just days after they celebrated their one year anniversary together, with Palmer announcing on Instagram that they had 'gone our separate ways' after having 'the best year together', with her wishing him well for the future.

He'd previously said he was a 'very lucky man' to be in the relationship, having first won her affections with his Toby Carvery Gold Card.

However, they split after just over a year together and the quiz ace, known as 'The Beast' on The Chase, has spoken out about the reason why things didn't last between them, saying it was because he 'got old'.

Mark Labbett opened up on why his relationship with Hayley Palmer ended. (Richard Sellers/Sportsphoto/Allstar via Getty Images)

Speaking to The Sun, the star of The Chase explained why he split up with Palmer as he described her as a 'lovely lady'.

"She's a lovely lady and I was very lucky to date her for a year, and as I said... it's me, I got old," Labbett said, before he added that he wasn't looking for another relationship.

"There's been no one since Hayley, I'm not saying there won't be another one. But I'm certainly not looking."

He added that he was 'quite comfortable without a partner' and has had a number of offers from other women since he became single, with many of them sliding into his DMs.

The Beast admitted that there were some 'warning signs' in some of the messages, which have him going 'defences to a maximum'. This includes people telling him 'I'm your number one fan', which might land him in a Misery type situation.

Labbett said he was 'quite comfortable without a partner' and 'content' with the single life. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Saying he was 'content' with his current single status, the chaser said he had 'settled down a little bit' and was definitely not planning on getting on any of the dating apps.

He said: "I joke I am a shed man - a guy of a certain age that's quite content being in or out of a relationship - but loves to be spending time on their own.

"It's primal, I think it goes all the way back to the hunter-gatherers where the man would go off a lot of time on their own.

"To be fair it's not just men, there are people who actually like their own company.

"I've got a friendship group around here where we go out but at the same time, I've really loved this summer, just being quietly here etc."