Ex-England prop Marler to become BBC's first celebrity Gladiator
The former rugby star will be known as Mauler when the fourth series airs in 2027, the BBC confirmed.
Former England rugby player Joe Marler will be the first celebrity to join the BBC's popular reality show Gladiators, the corporation announced. Marler, 36, will be known as Mauler in the show and will face off against contestants when the fourth series begins in 2027. In a video posted on Instagram, Marler announced his participation, stating, "See you now."
The BBC described Marler's debut as a series of special appearances filled with power, personality, and surprises. Filming for the fourth series is currently underway in Sheffield. Marler, known for his aggressive playing style and humor, has become a well-known sports personality in the UK. He joins a roster of other Gladiators, including Nitro, Viper, Diamond, and Sabre.
Gladiators, which originated in the 1990s on ITV, features ordinary people competing against a group of elite athletes, each with their own on-screen persona. The format was revived by Sky in 2008 before launching its current iteration on BBC One in 2024, becoming a hit for the network. A separate celebrity spin-off of the show is also in development, featuring contestants such as AJ Odudu, Sara Pascoe, Chris Ramsey, and George Clarke.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Sport's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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