England prop Joe Marler, a 3 time 6 Nations champion with 95 Test caps, has swapped the front row for Ardross Castle, confirming his place in the first celebrity edition of The Traitors. The Independent lists Marler among 19 famous players now sequestered in the Highlands where filming began on 22 April 2025.
Production sources say Marler was the final arrival at Inverness Airport, landing a day after Harlequins’ end of season dinner and joking that scrums have prepared him for the round table pressure cooker. He told reporters on the concourse that years of line out calls had sharpened his code making skills, a hint that subterfuge will be central to his approach.
BBC executives are quietly delighted. A figure known for colourful post match interviews and outspoken views on mental health brings both sporting credibility and unpredictable humour to a format built on misdirection. Insiders revealed to the Evening Standard that Marler insisted on daily ice bath access to keep his training routine intact, forcing producers to install a temporary plunge pool behind the stables.
Security around the show is tight. According to The Sun, every contestant surrendered mobile phones and must request supervised use of a communal handset, blocking any back channel tactics. For a former international known for mid scrum chats with opponents, the silence may prove a greater test than castle challenges.
Rugby pundits on X already debate whether raw honesty will help or hurt the prop. Some believe his straight talking style will mask any deceptive role, while others argue teammates will target him early to avoid a late maul. Either way, Marler’s leap from Twickenham to traitor territory promises a vigorous clash of sporting grit and psychological warfare.
