Joe Marler reveals his dream Celebrity Traitors castings – and which hit reality TV shows he will not be doing

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Joe Marler shared who he’d love to see on the next season of Celebrity Traitors, and explained why he doesn’t plan to appear on shows like I’m a Celebrity or Strictly Come Dancing in the near future.

The retired rugby player, who represented England 95 times over 12 years and was a well-known personality in the sport, quickly became a standout contestant on the first season of the BBC show.

After the success of the first season, another series of Celebrity Traitors is happening, and people are excited to find out which stars will be competing. Alison Hammond, Danny Dyer, and Hugh Grant are all being talked about as potential contestants.

In a special interview with TopMob, Marler – recently confirmed as England’s goalkeeper for the 2026 Soccer Aid match – shared his dream team selections.

I’d really like to see Roy Keane involved. I’d happily pay extra on top of my TV license just to have him there – he’d be fascinating to watch.

I’m open to anyone joining, really. The most important thing is that they genuinely enjoy the game and are true fans of the show, not just looking for an opportunity to advance themselves.

It’s funny that I’m trying to make this last as long as possible, but honestly, I’m happy as long as people are still enjoying it and understand it’s all just for fun.

I’m really enjoying the speculation about who might be on the show, and I’d be thrilled if Alison Hammond was cast. She’s got a unique laugh – if she were revealed as a ‘Traitor,’ it would be hilarious and instantly recognizable.

It would be amazing to see Roy Keane act, but even more surprisingly, Gary Oldman would be incredible in a role. Though I wouldn’t want Oldman to play himself – he’d be perfect as Jackson Lamb instead.

We’re curious to see how much the BBC will be able to fund the next season, especially considering which celebrities are likely to participate.

When asked if he had any tips for future contestants, he said, “Just remember it’s a game and watch your food intake. I gained eight kilos while filming, so be mindful of what you eat.”

It’s the complete reverse of shows like ‘I’m a Celebrity.’ On those shows, you’re in the jungle eating very few calories – around 700 a day – and everyone loses weight. But on ‘The Traitors,’ you’re almost certain to gain weight instead.

Ever since appearing on the show, many believe Marler would be a great fit for a presenting role at the BBC, but he’s carefully considering his options before making a decision.

He said he had a lot of fun being on The Traitors, as he was a big fan of the show. He really enjoyed both playing the game and doing the related TV appearances.

I’m still figuring out what retirement means for me. I’m wondering how to keep earning money and trying to adjust to this new phase of life without making any hasty decisions.

I’m definitely open to doing more television, but I need to choose projects carefully. I was talking to a former teammate, James Haskell, who seems to be on every reality show there is, and he joked after I finished ‘The Traitors’ that I should probably do ‘I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here!’ and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ next.

I immediately said no. He asked me why I wasn’t interested in any of those options, and I explained that they didn’t offer long-term potential. They seemed like fun and would be good experience, but I’m still figuring out what I want to do with my career.

I’m really excited to hear that Robbie Marler will be playing in Soccer Aid 2026 at the London Stadium in May! Apparently, he signed up not only to help raise money for a fantastic cause, but also to impress his oldest son – which I think is pretty relatable! It should be a great match.

He’s a huge football fan, especially of Manchester United – it’s his uncle’s fault! He never really acknowledged my skills as a rugby player because I didn’t score a try for England, and he even told me that. Now, I’m determined to earn his respect, but I doubt I’ll manage it unless I score a goal myself.

Although he’s a goalkeeper, it will be very difficult for Marler to score a goal. However, those watching on Sunday, May 31st, might see him come forward for a late corner kick.

He confessed he didn’t think his teammates would be pleased. He joked that Tom Hiddleston and Olly Murs would likely be very angry with him – a surreal thought – but he was determined to achieve his goal.

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Soccer Aid is an amazing event, and I was thrilled to be involved, especially since it’s been running for 20 years. The three-day training camp sounds fantastic, and it’s going to be incredible to play with and against some football legends.

Don’t expect much from me – you might be surprised! I wasn’t a great rugby player myself, but I was exceptionally good at making other people play poorly.

I’m likely going to use my strengths during the Soccer Aid match. I just need to make sure I don’t negatively impact my own team’s performance. My goal is to really get inside the heads of the players on the World XI team.

Soccer Aid, a charity match benefiting UNICEF, will be held on Sunday, May 31st at the London Stadium. Tickets are available now at socceraid.org.uk/tickets, starting at £10 for juniors and £20 for adults.

Authors

Ned Holmes

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2026-03-03 15:37