Joe Marler has revealed he was left baffled by a producer rule that told him not to speak to a mystery co-star before filming began on BBC's Celebrity Traitors, calling the instruction "so rude."
The former England rugby international, 36, recalled meeting actress Celia Imrie, 74, for the first time while filming the hit reality series, admitting he was nervous before the cameras had even started rolling.
First Meeting on the Show
Speaking to Celia on his podcast, Joe Marler Will See You Now, the pair revisited their first meeting, with the actress remembering how Joe burst into laughter as soon as they encountered each other.
"Now, the thing is, what I love about you is, Joe, the minute you see me, you start laughing," Celia said.
Joe admitted he could not contain his laughter, explaining that he had been feeling particularly giddy during their first encounter.
Producer's Unusual Instruction
He recalled climbing into a Land Rover before being told that another contestant would soon join him. However, he was instructed not to speak to the mystery passenger until filming began.
"'Don't speak to them. You don't know who they are'," he remembered being told. "I went, 'What do you mean, don't speak to him?' Like, 'That's so rude.'"
Joe explained that he had been sitting in the vehicle with his face covered when he heard the door open and Celia climb inside. Despite having no idea who was about to join him, he said he was already giggling by the time she settled into the vehicle.
Nerves and Laughter
Celia remembered Joe laughing almost immediately, while he admitted that his nerves had got the better of him. "I was so nervous. I was giggling," he said.
Joe went on to explain how he looked at his new companion and wondered why she was laughing, before realising who was sitting beside him. "And I was like, 'It's Celia Imrie'," he recalled.
The pair said they were equally delighted to see each other again for the podcast, having not properly caught up since the show's final viewing.
Joe made it all the way to the final of the BBC competition, which saw a host of famous faces take on tense missions and difficult decisions as they attempted to uncover the Traitors. Celia, meanwhile, was eliminated in a dramatic twist after being murdered in plain sight by eventual winner Alan Carr.
Carr was tasked with delivering a toast and saying "parting is such sweet sorrow" before revealing Celia as his victim. Before her departure, Celia also provided one of the series' most memorable moments when she passed wind during a tense mission in a cabin.
The incident left her fellow contestants in stitches, prompting presenter Claudia Winkleman to ask: "What just happened?" Celia replied: "I just farted, Claudia. It's nerves, but I always own up."
