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User:The JPS/Mark Labbett

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Mark Labbett
Born1965 or 1966 (age 58–59)[1]
OccupationTelevision personality
Notable creditThe Chase

Mark Labbett is a television personality best known for his role as a 'Chaser' on the ITV1 teatime quiz The Chase. He has appeared in several television quiz shows, and is a regular in quizzing competitions.

He obtained an MA in Mathematics from Oxford University, a PGCE in secondary education from University of Exeter, and a CPE & LPC (Qualifications in Law) from University of Glamorgan.[2] He taught in secondary schools, and worked as a supply teacher in Maths and P.E.[1]

Labbett became interested in quizzing when working at Butlins, supplementing his income with winnings from the quiz machines.[3] His pub quiz team won a weekend in Paris in April 2001 after competing the national competition Jumbo Quiz.[4]

He appeared on Mastermind in 1999, where his specialist subject was the Olympic Games.[5] He appeared again on Mastermind in 2000, with the animated television show The Simpsons as his specialist subject.[6]

In 2004 he won £500 on Five's BrainTeaser, and a year later he won £1,500 on BBC One's SUDO-Q.[3] In 2005, he won £16,000 on Millionaire Live, a live version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? that toured seaside resorts throughout the summer.[3][7] A captain, he led the Welsh quiz team to fifth place in the 2006 European Quizzing Championships.[1] In 2007, he was ranked as the 17th top quizzer in the country.[1]

His team, The Rugby Boys, won BBC Four's Only Connect in 2009.[8] Other television appearances include The National Lottery People's Quiz (2007),[9] Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?,[10] and University Challenge.[5]

Labbett portrays one of the 'Chasers' in the ITV1 teatime quiz The Chase, first broadcast in 2009. In the show, his nickname is "The Beast".[11] Writing for The Guardian, Stuart Heritage credited Labbett for the show's success, writing:

he carries himself with all the pomp and majesty of a medieval king who's fully aware that he knows quite a lot more about several things than most people. He's a readymade cult hero like David Dickinson before him, he'll no doubt get his own show within the next couple of years, and he single-handedly elevates the whole thing to a level it wouldn't otherwise deserve. It may not be the perfect daytime gameshow but, thanks mainly to Labbett, The Chase can be horribly watchable entertainment.[10]

He has hosted and participated in several charity quiz nights,[11] such as one in Cardiff in May 2012 for Cancer Research Wales and Velindre Cancer Centre.[12]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The People's Quiz 2007". BBC. April 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  2. ^ "Biography". Mark "The Beast" Labbett. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  3. ^ a b c Papworth, Jill (27 January 2007). "Lucky break? Don't leave it to chance". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  4. ^ Smale, Will (17 April 2001). "PUB QUIZ TEAM IS GIVEN PRIZE GRILLING". South Wales Echo. Western Mail and Echo Ltd. p. 16.
  5. ^ a b Hutchinson, Clare (13 October 2009). "'Come on, Paxman, if you think you're hard enough...' says wicked Humphrys ; Questions at 20 paces in quiz duel - and we'll even make it easy for you Humphrys". The Western Mail. Western Mail and Echo Ltd. p. 14.
  6. ^ PRICE, KAREN (6 August 2004). "MASTERMIND ACCUSED OF SELLING OUT IN RATINGS FIGHT". Western Mail. Western Mail and Echo Ltd. p. 10.
  7. ^ Hedge, John Paul (5 September 2005). "Winners walk off with two cars and £16k". Herald Express. Torquay: Herald Express (Torquay). p. 4.
  8. ^ "NEWSBRIEF". South Wales Echo. Western Mail and Echo Ltd. 1 September 2009. p. 6.
  9. ^ Bjortomt, Olav (23 June 2007). "Your starter for £200,000 (subscription required)". The Times (The Knowledge). Times Newspapers Limited. p. 33.
  10. ^ a b Heritage, Stuart (28 June 2010). "The Chase: how to make the perfect daytime gameshow". The Guardian. Retrieved 23 June 2012.
  11. ^ a b "Quiz beast appearance". Bristol Evening Post. Bristol United Press. 12 May 2012. p. 19.
  12. ^ "Quiz celebrity to host event". South Wales Echo. 27 March 2012. p. 6.
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Category:1965 births Category:Alumni of the University of Exeter Category:Alumni of Oxford University Category:Alumni of the University of Glamorgan Category:Living people Category:Contestants on British game shows

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