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Joe Marler 'riding Traitors wave' on podcast tour

James DunnSports Reporter, BBC South East
BBC Joe Marler, right, and co-host Jake Bhardwaj, on their podcast and YouTube show, Joe Marler Will See You Now. Marler, a broad, former England international rugby player, is on the right side of a desk on a filming set styled like a psychiatry office. Bhardwaj, in a brown suit, is on the left.BBC
Joe Marler (R) and Jake Bhardwaj now host a comedy podcast and YouTube show called Joe Marler Will See You Now

From being known as a traitor hunter to pseudo-psychiatrist podcaster Dr Joe, Joe Marler has come a long way since his days as an England International rugby player.

His podcast, Joe Marler Will See You Now, is about to tour live across England.

Speaking of his time on The Celebrity Traitors, Marler, who is from Heathfield in East Sussex, admitted: "I've definitely milked it for all it's worth - I've ridden that wave."

His podcast has featured guests ranging from Prince Harry to fellow traitor contestant Nick Mohammed.

Their alliance on The Celebrity Traitors, and Mohammed's betrayal, watched by 15 million viewers, was one of the biggest TV moment of last year.

Marler, who played his final game for Harlequins in 2024, said he was "very grateful" that his appearance on The Traitors helped his post-rugby career.

PA Media Marler with his trademark blonde Mohawk hair, giving the thumbs up, wearing a white England shirtPA Media
Marler made 95 appearances for England, winning three Six Nations titles, and reaching the World Cup Final in 2019

The former Harlequins captain made 95 appearances for England, winning three Six Nations titles and reaching the 2019 World Cup Final.

He appeared in the first Celebrity Traitors series last year, in which faithful contestants must find and banish the traitors.

Marler quickly became a fan favourite, a faithful who became known as a traitor hunter due to his forceful campaigns to banish traitors Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross and Cat Burns.

"People are saying 'are you that guy in the dungarees from The Traitors', as opposed to 'are you that rugby player who used to wind people up'," he said after the series aired.

Since The Celebrity Traitors, his podcast has amassed millions of views on YouTube, and is available on BBC Sounds.

With his co-host Jake Bhardwaj, the two sit on either side of a desk in a set styled as what Marler called a "pseudo-psychiatrist" office.

A comedy show in the format of a psychiatry session, Marler, who has opened up about his own mental health struggles, describes it as "light and shade".

"We make it a space where we can have a laugh, muck about together, explore fun topics but also allow the guests to talk about darkness or deeper stuff," he said.

Marler also highlighted guest Josh Widdicombe, describing his discussion about coming off anti-depressants as a "turning point" for the show.

Joe Marler Will See You Now Prince Harry sits on the left, facing Joe Marler on the right, sat the other side of a desk as they talk in his podcast Joe Marler Will See You NowJoe Marler Will See You Now
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, apperared on the podcast, which has amassed millions of views on YouTube alone since its launch a year ago

Co-host Jake Bhardwaj said: "We find an issue that a famous face might want some help with, and use that as a launchpad, to hopefully get them talking about things they might not on other shows.

"We make it a space where we can have a laugh, muck about together, explore fun topics but also allow the guests to talk about darkness or deeper stuff."

Marler wears a flat cap and a checked shirt in the first series of Celebrity Traitors, sitting on the studded, red sofa in the famous manor house used in the show
Marler emerged as a fan favourite on Celebrity Traitors for his forceful arguments to banish those he believed were not truly faithfuls

Marler said the live show "will be a peep behind the curtain at how it's made and a chance to meet the people that have sent us loads of messages that are loving it".

Guests have ranged from Stephen Fry to Vicky Pattison, as well as Ross Kemp, who asked Marler about Celebrity Traitors before signing up to season two.

"I said, 'I absolutely loved it mate, if you get the chance to go and play the game, I highly recommend it'," Marler said.

Asked about the latest series, Marler added: "Richard E Grant coming out like that, straight off the bat - I'm hooked."

Joe Marler Will See You Now will be on at The Dome in Brighton on 5 November.

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