In a shocking twist that left fans reeling, rugby legend Joe Marler was dramatically ousted from the Celebrity Traitors finale by none other than his supposed ally, actor Nick Mohammed. The betrayal not only cost Joe the game but sparked a wave of outrage online—and now, Joe has broken his silence on how it all went down, issuing a tongue-in-cheek warning that even the most charming “ally” can turn on you in a heartbeat.
The explosive finale saw Nick, 45, cast the decisive vote against Joe, 35, convinced the former rugby star was a sneaky Traitor. His reasoning? Joe’s seemingly suspicious “sorry” to fellow contestant Cat Burns as she exited the roundtable. But as the dust settles, Joe has opened up about the gut-wrenching moment, revealing a mix of heartbreak and lingering affection for the man who sealed their fates.
Appearing on Saturday Kitchen with host Matt Tebbutt, 51, Joe didn’t hold back on his initial devastation. “I was heartbroken,” he confessed, his voice tinged with raw emotion. “He didn’t stick to my plan. He went with his gut, which is a shame.” Yet, in a surprising turn, Joe’s fury melted into fondness as he recalled Nick’s endearing quirks: the tiny dicky bow, that innocent face, and the three little love hearts Nick scribbled next to Joe’s name on his chalkboard. “Although in that moment I was heartbroken, I was like, ‘aww’,” Joe admitted with a chuckle. But make no mistake—Joe’s playful jab serves as a stark reminder: “Never trust him!”—at least not when the game’s on the line.
The betrayal sent shockwaves through social media, with X users labeling it a “horrific” stab in the back. @MwepuMagic summed it up perfectly: “A horrific betrayal.” Shaheena Uddin lamented, “I’m so disappointed by my fallen king Nick Mohammed did Joe Marler so dirty.” And Ian Cahoon added a dramatic flair: “Joe Marler was pounded on the rugby pitch for 20 years, but nothing hurt as badly as Nick’s 11th hour betrayal.” The online fury captured the raw intensity of the moment, turning a gameshow elimination into a viral saga of broken alliances.
In the end, the misstep proved fatal for the Faithfuls. With Joe banished, Nick and historian David Olusoga, 55, failed to sniff out the real Traitor—comedian Alan Carr—who slyly claimed the £87,500 prize pot for his charity, Neuroblastoma UK. As Nick and David emerged from the castle to face the ousted players, including Joe and Cat Burns, the rugby star couldn’t resist a cheeky quip: “I suggest you two have your drinks on the top step.” Classic Joe—turning betrayal into banter.
Despite the sting, Joe’s post-game reflections show no lasting grudge against Nick. “I really enjoyed Nick. He is fantastic,” he told Matt on the show, proving that even in defeat, true sportsmanship shines through. And Nick wasn’t the only one earning high praise; Joe gushed over his budding bromance with comedian Joe Wilkinson. “He’s one of the funniest blokes I’ve come across, and I just fell in love with him,” Joe shared, highlighting the unexpected bonds formed in the castle’s high-stakes pressure cooker.
Joe also dished on a humbling encounter with fellow contestant Lucy Beaumont, who hilariously had no clue who he was. “It was quite a big moment for me,” he laughed. “You’re in the rugby bubble, and you think, ‘Oh, there’s nothing bigger. You’re in this, and it’s amazing.’ Everyone knows rugby. You get out of it, and you go in the real world, and they’re like, ‘Who are you?’ And you go, ‘Good point’.”
From heartbreak to heartfelt laughs, Joe Marler’s Celebrity Traitors journey reminds us all: in the game of betrayal, even the sweetest ally can leave you questioning everything. But as Joe proves, sometimes a little forgiveness—and a lot of humor—goes a long way.