Joe Marler named BBC's first celebrity Gladiator
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- Joe Marler, 36, the former England rugby international and Celebrity Traitors star, will become the first celebrity Gladiator on the BBC's fourth series of Gladiators, set to air in 2027.
- Marler will compete under the persona name "Mauler" and join existing Gladiators Nitro, Viper, Diamond and Sabre in the series currently filming in Sheffield.
- Marler announced the news in an Instagram video filmed in the Gladiators dressing room, declaring "Mauler will see you now."
- The BBC said Marler will make "special appearances packed with power, personality and plenty of surprises," citing his "uncompromising style of play and larger-than-life sense of humour."
- A separate Gladiators celebrity spin-off is in development, with contestants including AJ Odudu, Sara Pascoe, Chris Ramsey and George Clarke.
- The BBC's Gladiators revival launched in 2024 after the original ran on ITV in the 1990s and had a single-series run on Sky in 2008.
Why it matters: Marler's appointment as the first celebrity Gladiator gives the BBC's rebooted format — already a ratings hit since its 2024 launch — a crossover star fresh from Celebrity Traitors, boosting visibility for the 2027 series. The broadcaster is simultaneously developing a separate celebrity spin-off, expanding its celebrity-talent pipeline in two directions at once.
