Joe Marler spent most of his rugby profession within the dust, the place mud, mauls and mayhem have been on the very core of his identification.
However since hanging up his boots, the previous England worldwide has swapped scrums for studios, tackling for tv and rucks for crimson carpets to grow to be one the preferred stars of British mainstream media.
From constructing a profitable podcast empire to showing on a string of high-profile TV exhibits, Marler, 36, has carved out a brand new profession that few might have predicted, turning into a well-recognized face far past the game that made him well-known initially.
It was introduced on Monday that the highly effective prop is ready to grow to be the primary ever superstar Gladiator when the fourth collection of the BBC’s hit TV present returns in 2027, taking over the brand new identification of ‘Mauler’.
Whereas showing on Gladiators will not be an enormous departure from the bodily and aggressive world of England and Harlequins rugby, it was a really completely different BBC programme that reworked Marler from a cult determine amongst sports activities followers right into a family title throughout the UK.
That well-liked TV present was Movie star Traitors, the place hundreds of thousands of viewers noticed a aspect of Marler that had typically been hidden beneath his rugged, intimidating and formidable look.
Joe Marler would be the first superstar to look as a Gladiator on the BBC’s well-liked TV collection
The previous England rugby star has grow to be a nationwide treasure since his retirement
His look on the primary collection of Movie star Traitors boosted his recognition away from sport
Away from the chaos and carnage of the rugby pitch was a self-deprecating and surprisingly weak character who shortly turned one of many breakout stars of the collection.
His unlikely friendship with Ted Lasso actor and comic Nick Mohammed turned one of many present’s most memorable highlights, whereas his blunt observations and mischievous plotting made him a favorite amongst viewers who had by no means watched him play a single minute of rugby.
But Movie star Traitors was not the start of Marler’s media profession. By the point he stepped inside ‘the fort’, he had already spent years constructing a platform that might permit him to make the leap into mainstream media.
Somewhat than following the well-trodden path into rugby teaching or full-time punditry, the ahead started cultivating a media profession whereas he was nonetheless enjoying, launching The Joe Marler Present earlier than evolving it into the vastly well-liked Issues Individuals Do podcast.
Co-hosted alongside sports activities journalist Tom Fordyce, the podcast intentionally prevented turning into one other rugby chat present. As a substitute, Marler leaned into his pure curiosity and self-deprecating humour, desperate to study new views from friends and share distinctive tales about his life to this point.
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn and Married at First Sight relationship knowledgeable Paul Brunson are amongst these to have joined Marler within the studio since, though the down-to-earth former rugby star continues to ask odd folks with extraordinary jobs on to the present to share their tales and views as effectively.
The success of the present opened the door to a second podcast, Joe Marler Will See You Now, which launched within the wake of his look on Movie star Traitors and has shortly grow to be extraordinarily well-liked, sitting nineteenth within the charts at present.
Final month, listeners have been left shocked when Prince Harry appeared as a visitor on the present, including to a powerful listing of celebrities who’ve joined the ex-England prop on Joe Marler Will See You Now particularly, together with Russell Howard, Dani Dyer, Joel Dommett, Joe Lycett, Prue Leith and Stephen Fry.
The rugby star chatted to Prince Harry on his well-liked Joe Marler Will See You Now podcast
The podcast at present sits nineteenth within the UK charts after Prince Harry’s look final month
From elevating £64,000 for CALM on Who Needs To Be A Millionaire? to that includes at Soccer Assist for UNICEF, Marler does finished loads of charity work after his retirement from rugby too
After proving his credentials behind the microphone, it wasn’t lengthy earlier than TV producers got here calling. Appearances on Michael McIntyre’s The Wheel and Blankety Clean showcased simply how snug Marler was on the small display screen, whereas stories linking him with Movie star Bake Off and the latest announcement of his Gladiators function counsel broadcasters more and more see him as way over merely a former rugby participant.
Marler has by no means taken himself too critically, both. Throughout an look on Michael McIntyre’s Large Present in January, he fortunately threw himself right into a ‘lip-sync battle’ with RuPaul’s Drag Race UK winner Blu Hydrangea, mouthing the phrases to Tina Turner’s Merely the Finest whereas wearing a wig, skirt and glittery make-up.
His rising recognition has not gone unnoticed commercially too. Away from tv, Marler has fronted campaigns for a string of well-liked manufacturers, from Pringles and Sky Cellular to Jacamo and Sainsbury’s.
Humour is commonly on the coronary heart of those adverts, typified by Durex selecting Marler to entrance their tongue-in-cheek ‘Match Issues’ marketing campaign in July 2022. Filmed stress-free in a sizzling tub and discussing condom sizes together with his trademark deadpan supply, he performed precisely the kind of self-deprecating, barely absurd function that many former elite sportsmen may need prevented – however one which undoubtedly labored to his profit.
Model and Tradition Skilled Nick Ede believes his honesty and humour has been on the centre of his success post-retirement.
‘His success comes from the truth that he has by no means tried to current himself as a refined media persona. As a substitute, he is leaned into being genuine, unpredictable and genuinely humorous, and audiences have responded to that honesty,’ he advised Day by day Mail Sport.
‘What makes Joe so marketable is that he is extremely relatable. He would not match the normal mould of the media-trained ex-professional athlete. He is joyful to snort at himself, discuss brazenly about his struggles with psychological well being, poke enjoyable at rugby tradition and present the messy realities of life after elite sport.
‘His retirement has truly given him extra freedom to showcase that persona. With out the pressures and restrictions of being an energetic England worldwide, he is been in a position to embrace alternatives throughout tv, podcasts, radio and leisure, permitting individuals who might by no means have watched a rugby match to find him.
‘His look on Movie star Traitors was a pivotal second as a result of it launched him to a completely new viewers who might have had little or no data of his rugby profession. Viewers noticed his humour, strategic pondering and heat, proving that his enchantment extends effectively past the sporting world. That sort of mainstream publicity has considerably strengthened his profile and demonstrated that he has the charisma to reach leisure in addition to sport.
‘He is additionally extremely versatile. One minute he may be making audiences snort on a panel present, the subsequent he is having a considerate dialog about psychological well being or fatherhood. That vary offers broadcasters confidence as a result of they know he’ll entertain whereas additionally bringing authenticity when a topic turns into extra critical.
He was hailed a nationwide treasure by Movie star Traitors followers after his memorable appearances
‘Manufacturers are more and more in search of ambassadors who can construct belief reasonably than merely appeal to consideration, and Joe ticks that field. He is imperfect, self-aware and refreshingly trustworthy, which makes him extremely credible.
‘Customers are way more more likely to join with somebody who feels real than somebody who seems overly polished, and Joe has constructed his status by by no means pretending to be something aside from himself.’
Fellow business knowledgeable Rebecca Might, Founding father of RM Publicity, agreed: ‘Joe is seen by audiences as entertaining – audiences see him as humorous, quick-witted and trustworthy – a mixture that is extremely likeable and marketable. Audiences reply to him, which is why he does so effectively on TV and continues to be booked.
‘Simply because an athlete or sportsperson has had a profitable profession and is well-known doesn’t suggest that may translate into being a profitable TV persona that audiences love. That’s what separates Joe Marler aside – audiences mechanically like him.
‘I might describe Joe’s model as managed unpredictability. He’s enjoyable, edgy and relatable however with sufficient spontaneity to maintain folks watching, which is why he’s turning into a mainstream TV favorite.
‘The viewers is ready to see what he says or does subsequent, and that’s half his enchantment. That stability is efficacious in mainstream TV as a result of it retains viewers engaged.’
Whereas refusing to take himself too critically by way of his public picture, Marler has grow to be an envoy for a number of charities and psychological well being organisations since his retirement from rugby.
An envoy for UK suicide prevention charity Marketing campaign Towards Residing Miserably (CALM), Marler is captivated with breaking psychological well being stigmas and inspiring vulnerability amongst males, having raised £64,000 for the organisation throughout an look on Who Needs To Be A Millionaire? in 2024 and having starred in Sky’s documentary Large Boys Do not Cry.
Marler additionally made his Soccer Assist debut for UNICEF earlier this yr, lining up alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Jill Scott, Olly Murs and Robbie Williams. True to type, he stole the highlight after being thrown on as an emergency goalkeeper, incomes the fan-voted ‘Second of the Match’ award for his unlikely cameo.
His wide-ranging interview with British GQ in February additionally confirmed how Marler’s enchantment has grown far past conventional sports activities audiences. The previous prop mentioned all the pieces from retirement and fatherhood to psychological well being and discovering goal away from rugby, providing the identical stage of openness that has grow to be a defining function of his public persona.
It’s that mixture – the willingness to be each ridiculous and weak – that has separated Marler from many former athletes trying to construct a profile after retirement. He has by no means tried to reinvent himself as a refined superstar however as a substitute has taken the identical unpredictable persona that made him such a compelling rugby determine and easily moved it into a unique area.
Since strolling away from rugby, he has grow to be a actuality TV star, podcast host, model ambassador, psychological well being advocate and one of the recognisable figures in British leisure. Not unhealthy for a 36-year-old who retired absolutely simply two years in the past.
A mischievous rogue and joker on the rugby pitch, Marler didn’t depart behind the persona that made him well-liked amongst sports activities followers. He merely used it to carve out one other extremely profitable profession.
