ITV The Chase's Mark Labbett shares ambition to launch solo show

The Beast has been the co-star of The Chase for much than 15 years - but he's got his oculus connected a antithetic relation successful the future

Mark Labbett has dropped a bombshell by admitting he's got his eyes acceptable connected hosting his ain quiz show.

As 1 of stalwarts of the beloved ITV1 quizzer alongside Shaun Wallace, Mark Labbett - besides known arsenic "The Beast" - has been gracing our screens for implicit 15 years successful the relation of Bradley Walsh's right-hand man.

Ever the ambitious quipster, "The Beast" confessed that stepping into the limelight is decidedly connected his agenda.

At 59, helium spills the beans: "I openly admit that my 1 ambition near successful TV is to big my ain quiz oregon crippled show.

"I'm constantly, respectfully reminding the brag astatine ITV: 'Any accidental astatine 1 for me!' "You've conscionable got to hold your crook and anticipation it's the close format for you. TV is simply a weird and fantastic environment."

Labelled arsenic 1 of the astir daunting Chasers connected the teatime deed show, helium stands gangly beside quiz legends similar "The Dark Destroyer" Wallace, Anne "The Governess" Hegerty, Paul "The Sinnerman" Sinha, Jenny "The Vixen" Ryan, and Darragh "The Menace" Ennis.

Recounting the days of their archetypal bid successful Manchester, Mark told Express: "When Shaun and I were filming the archetypal bid (of The Chase) successful Manchester, Jeremy Kyle was successful the make-up country astir to spell connected his amusement and helium asked america successful each seriousness: 'Would we beryllium funny successful moving for him arsenic security?'"

Unfortunately for Jeremy, Shaun had the cleanable retort, jesting: 'You can't spend america mate'!"

Mark is hopeful that if helium ventures retired connected his own, he'll lucifer the occurrence of long-time big and erstwhile Doctor Who prima Bradley Walsh, 64, who helium believes is the cardinal to The Chase's success.

"I'm biased but I deliberation successful Bradley, we've got the champion crippled amusement big successful the English-speaking world," Mark confidently states. "Seeing arsenic I've travelled astir the English-speaking world, I'm benignant of equipped to marque that judgement."

Interestingly, contempt Bradley's immense popularity with the audience, helium wasn't the archetypal prime for the relation it was initially meant to beryllium investigative writer Donal Macintyre.

"Due to a scheduling thing, a model came up for Bradley. He became disposable and, arsenic they say, the remainder is history," Mark reveals.

Mark besides highlights the unsocial dynamic betwixt the Chasers and Bradley, noting: "I deliberation that's the concealed limb truthful galore different quiz amusement hosts would marque it astir them. They bash each the talking, we conscionable beryllium astatine the apical and play the game. Whereas we're lucky, it's conscionable developed astir by mishap that we get this small rapport with Bradley and he's generous capable to fto america person our bit. I deliberation that's a existent strength."

He further explains: "It feels similar it's a clump of radical successful a barroom oregon societal mounting trying to get 1 implicit connected each other. So, you've got Bradley talking to the contestants, maine talking to the contestants, maine talking to Bradley, the 3 of america talking together."

The Chase is disposable to ticker weekdays connected ITV from 5pm.