The Sports Guru
Joe Marler is swapping the rugby field for a television arena, and this piece explains exactly what that change involves. You will find out who he is playing, when audiences will first see him in the role, and how his arrival fits into a show that has reinvented itself several times over three decades. By the end you will know precisely what is new here and why it stands out among Marler's recent television appearances.
Joe Marler spent his rugby career as an England international prop known for an aggressive, combative style on the pitch. That reputation is now being repurposed for entertainment television. The BBC has confirmed the 36-year-old will become the first celebrity Gladiator on its long-running series, taking on the character name Mauler when the show's fourth series lands in 2027. It marks a fresh chapter for a player who has already shown an appetite for reality formats.
A New Persona Built on an Existing Reputation
Marler, who hails from Heathfield in Sussex, is not new to televised competition outside rugby. He previously featured in the first series of Celebrity Traitors, and the BBC's announcement leans heavily on that public profile. The corporation described him as one of the UK's most entertaining sporting personalities, pointing to his combative playing style and sense of humour as reasons he suits the arena format. Production on the fourth series is currently taking place in Sheffield.
Marler shared the news himself, posting a short video from inside the Gladiators dressing room with the line: "Mauler will see you now." The BBC has said his debut will arrive through a run of "special appearances packed with power, personality and plenty of surprises," phrasing that suggests a recurring guest role rather than a full competitive season, though no further detail has been given on how many appearances that will involve.
Joining an Established Cast of Characters
As Mauler, Marler will share the arena with existing Gladiators such as Nitro, Viper, Diamond and Sabre. The show has always relied on this kind of character branding, turning athletes into larger-than-life figures who take on members of the public in physical challenges. What sets Marler apart is that he steps in as a celebrity guest wearing the persona for a stretch, rather than building one from the ground up as a full-time cast member.
A Format That Keeps Reinventing Itself
Marler is far from the first recognisable sporting name to appear on Gladiators, even if his billing as a celebrity Gladiator is new. Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, already a household sporting name, appeared on the original ITV version in 1995 under the character Amazon during a run that made the show a huge hit through the 1990s. Sky later revived the format for two series in 2008, and the current BBC One version launched in 2024, quickly becoming a ratings success in its own right.
A separate celebrity spin-off is also reportedly in production, said to include presenter AJ Odudu, comedian Sara Pascoe, podcaster Chris Ramsey and social media personality George Clarke. Marler's role as Mauler sits apart from that project, another sign of how many directions the Gladiators brand has now expanded into.
Why the Announcement Stands Out
A sportsperson moving into television is not unusual on its own. What makes this different is that the BBC has framed Marler's Gladiator identity entirely around the reputation he already carries from his playing days, rather than asking him to build a new on-screen character from scratch. Whether that combative, entertaining persona translates from a rugby pitch to an arena designed purely for spectacle is the open question the BBC has left largely unanswered ahead of the 2027 series.
Frequently Asked Questions
He will compete under the name Mauler when he appears on the BBC's Gladiators series.
He debuts when the fourth series arrives in 2027; production is currently under way in Sheffield.
Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies joined the original ITV version in 1995 as the character Amazon, though Marler is described as the first celebrity Gladiator on the current BBC format.
He took part in the first series of Celebrity Traitors before this announcement.
He joins the current roster, including Nitro, Viper, Diamond and Sabre.
Research: This article uses the archived evidence supplied for this story. Story inspiration: BBC Sport's original report.