Former England rugby international Joe Marler has been confirmed as the first Celebrity Gladiator to join the BBC's hit reboot of Gladiators. The 36-year-old will step into the Sheffield arena as his alter ego Mauler, making special appearances described as "packed with power, personality and plenty of surprises".
New addition to the lineup
Marler will join familiar Gladiator faces including Apollo, Comet, Diamond, Nitro and Dynamite in the upcoming series. While this marks the first celebrity to join the main Gladiator team, the all-star spin-off has previously featured celebrities such as Vogue Williams, Joe Wicks, Rob Beckett and Joel Dommett taking on the Gladiators.
Since retiring from rugby, Marler has pivoted to television, appearing on shows like Michael McIntyre's The Wheel, Blankety Blank and Soccer Aid 2026. His appearance on Celebrity Traitors last autumn made him a TV star, known for his shrewd game analysis and friendships with comedians Joe Wilkinson and Nick Mohammed. He formed an alliance with Ted Lasso star Mohammed, who later backstabbed him at the final roundtable, creating a viral moment.
Series changes and return
The announcement comes after a fourth season of Celebrity Gladiators was confirmed. The upcoming series will add a new event to the roster alongside classic challenges like the Duel, where contestants face off against Gladiators on elevated podiums using padded batons.
This news follows Giant, whose real name is Jamie Bigg, revealing in April that he would not return to the show after facing a "choice" that did not align with his values. He said his departure came after he planned to make his relationship with his partner, a creator on OnlyFans, public.
Gladiators returns to BBC One and BBC iPlayer in 2027.
