Former rugby star Joe Marler, who became a household name on the first celebrity series of The Traitors, has firmly shut down any speculation about a future on other reality shows like I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!
The 35-year-old sportsman, who was a fan favourite on the BBC's backstabbing game, exclusively told Metro that his claustrophobia and a low tolerance for hunger would make him a 'nightmare' contestant in the jungle.
Why Reality TV Isn't For Him
When asked if his time on Celebrity Traitors had given him the bug for more televised challenges, Marler was emphatic. 'No,' he stated. 'I don't think reality is for me, as much fun as I had.'
He elaborated on his reasons for avoiding specific shows, explaining, 'People have asked me, but I'm not doing Strictly because I can't dance. I'm not going on I'm A Celeb because I'm claustrophobic and also get really hungry, so I'd be a nightmare in there.'
Despite his reservations about the genre, the experience wasn't entirely off-putting. Marler revealed it sparked some creative inspiration, teasing a potential collaboration with fellow contestants. 'It's given me a little bit of inspiration to potentially try and make something with someone like Joe Wilkinson or Nick Mohammed,' he shared, hinting at a fun, self-made project.
The Traitors Fallout and Forgiveness
Marler's journey on the show, which aired earlier this year from a Scottish Highlands castle, ended in dramatic fashion. He was heartbreakingly banished at the final moment by his closest ally, Nick Mohammed, paving the way for comedian Alan Carr to be revealed as the winning Traitor and scoop the £87,500 prize.
At the time, Joe confessed to cameras how much it 'hurt to be stabbed in the back last minute' by Nick, with whom he had formed a strong 'bromance'.
However, any hard feelings have since been resolved. 'It wasn't for a couple of weeks that I got to properly debrief with Nick,' Marler explained. 'And turns out, I was just a little bit creepy. Maybe I was a little bit too intense.'
He believes his passionate assurance of Nick's faithfulness ironically made the actor suspicious. 'I love Nick to bits; it's all part of the game, and we're still really good friends now; it was great fun,' he concluded, showing there were no lasting grudges.
Life After The Traitors
Reflecting on the experience, Marler admitted he felt 'out of his depth' among celebrity heavyweights like Sir Stephen Fry and Celia Imrie. Yet, he believes his relative anonymity in the rugby world worked to his advantage, allowing other players to take him at face value.
He also joked about the editing process, assuring audiences he was lucky to receive a 'real heavy edit' after getting 'so lost in the game'.
Now, Marler is focusing on the future and has teamed up with loveholidays to promote the idea of a winter sun getaway. He was even photographed 'topping up his tan' in a unique location—a billboard at the side of a London road—to symbolise that 'the sun is never far away'.
On a personal note, he shared his self-care routine for the darker months, which includes cold-water 'bobbing' (as he can't swim) at least once a week to reset. For Joe Marler, life after The Traitors is about finding meaningful fun, not necessarily in the reality TV spotlight.
