Joe Marler: Ex-England star primed for showbiz gig following Traitors success – report
Joe Marler walking off the pitch against Bristol Bears.
Former British and Irish Lions and England international Joe Marler looks set to land a major BBC hosting gig following his stint on hit TV show ‘The Traitors’, according to reports.
Per the Daily Mail, Marler, who is one of the ‘Faithfuls’ on the star-studded Celebrity edition alongside household names like Alan Carr and Jonathan Ross, is attracting the interest of top BBC executives and could now be set to star in a show of his own.
Marler retired from Test rugby during last year’s Autumn Nations Series, before later retiring from all rugby in December. Across his club career, the loosehead prop made 283 appearances for Harlequins, winning two PREM titles and one EPCR Challenge Cup along the way.
He also became a mainstay in the England side following his debut in 2011, earning 95 Test caps and helping the national side win three Six Nations titles, including the 2016 Grand Slam.
‘The second he stopped playing rugby, there were eyes on him’
A BBC insider told MailOnline: “The BBC is constantly looking for new talent and the second he stopped playing rugby, there were eyes on him.
“Bosses knew that getting him on Traitors would be a very good shop window for him and they could test whether or not the viewers would like him. As soon as they saw it, they knew he would be someone the British public would adore and they seem to be right.
“At the same time, he himself is ready for a new career after retiring from rugby. He has long wanted to present from a BBC sofa and The One Show is one of his favourite programmes. To anchor that would be his dream.”
Furthermore, the report also claims Marler has signed on with showbiz talent agency M+C Saatchi, who represent fellow ex-sports stars-turned TV personalities Freddie Flintoff and Jamie Redknapp.
Marler is no stranger to TV work, either, appearing as a pundit on TNT Sports and the BBC following his retirement last year. He was also recently a guest on ‘Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel’, which is also aired on the BBC.
