In a shocking twist that left fans reeling, Joe Marler, the rugged ex-England rugby star known for his no-nonsense persona on the pitch, found himself on the wrong end of a brutal betrayal in the finale of BBC’s Celebrity Traitors. But while the show painted him as a sharp-witted Faithful hunting down hidden Traitors, his former teammates have peeled back the layers to reveal the real Marler—a charismatic joker who’s far from the “villain” the rugby world often labels him.
The 35-year-old prop, who hung up his international boots in November 2024 after a storied career, was one of 19 celebs thrust into the high-stakes game of deception. As a Faithful, Marler’s mission was clear: sniff out the three Traitors lurking among the group and banish them before they could sabotage the prize pot. With his outspoken style and quick wit, he navigated the twists and turns like a pro, forming an unbreakable pact with Ted Lasso star Nick Mohammed. The duo seemed destined for victory, bonding over strategy and survival in the tense Scottish castle setting.
But drama peaked in the final four when Mohammed flipped the script at the eleventh hour. His pivotal vote sent Marler packing, paving the way for chat show king Alan Carr to snatch the entire £87,500 charity jackpot as the last Traitor standing. It was a gut-wrenching moment that had viewers—and Marler’s rugby pals—gasping in disbelief.
Gathered in the team room to watch the finale unfold, Marler’s old England squadmates were rooting for him every step of the way. Second-row powerhouse Alex Coles spilled the beans ahead of their recent victory over Fiji, dishing on the collective shock. “We were all glued to the screen,” Coles recalled. “Joe had it all figured out—he’d read the room perfectly, had Nick in his corner, and everything was lining up for a win. The editing made it seem like smooth sailing, but then bam! The rug got yanked right out from under him.”
Coles didn’t hold back on why they thought Marler was primed for success: “We expected him to shine once people got past the surface. Joe’s incredibly charismatic, with a killer sense of humor that lights up any room. It’s refreshing to see that side of a rugby player shared with the world—not just the tough guy image. We’re all thrilled for him, even with that backstabbing finale. That’s the game, right? He’s shown his true colors, and if he dives deeper into media, he’ll crush it.”
True to his laid-back nature, Marler harbors no grudges against Mohammed. Reuniting with the cast, the pair shared a heartfelt hug, and on Saturday Kitchen, Marler opened up with his trademark candor. “He didn’t follow my plan—he trusted his gut, which stung,” Marler confessed. “But I was still head over heels for the guy. That dapper bow tie, his adorable face, those three little hearts next to my name… In that instant, I was devastated, but the love’s still there.”
Marler’s Traitors adventure also sparked an unlikely bromance with comedian Joe Wilkinson. “He’s one of the funniest dudes I’ve ever met—sharp as a tack and ridiculously smart,” Marler gushed. “I just fell for him, hook, line, and sinker.”
From rugby’s hard-hitting fields to reality TV’s treacherous alliances, Joe Marler has proven he’s more than meets the eye. His teammates’ glowing endorsement shatters the “villain” myth, unveiling a guy who’s as hilarious off the pitch as he is formidable on it. Who knows what’s next for this media-savvy star? One thing’s for sure: betrayal or not, Marler’s charisma is unbreakable.