Joe Marler says 'I knew there would be backlash for interviewing Prince Harry'

EXCLUSIVE: Joe Marler says 'I knew there would be backlash for interviewing Prince Harry' EXCLUSIVE: Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler reveals what he's doing to prepare for his new Gladiators role - and why his podcast with Prince Harry came as such a surprise Few people can claim to have discussed everything from manscaping and ChuckleVision to fatherhood and trauma with a member of the royal family - but as of last month, Joe Marler can. His chat with the Duke of Sussex for his hugely popular podcast, Joe Marler Will See You Now, is just one of the many surreal moments the retired England rugby star has experienced since The Celebrity Traitors kicked-off his remarkable second act. The series sees Joe, 36, and comedian co-host Jake Bhardwaj combine silliness with often surprisingly honest conversations about mental health and life’s difficult moments. And when Harry took his turn in the chair, the result was one of the podcast’s most unexpectedly candid – and hilarious – episodes yet. “We put some prep in but it crept up on us and I was nervous, thinking about the whole thing and also the polarising public opinion of it,” he tells us. “Jake just said, ‘Calm down and think about what we want to achieve from having him as a guest.’ I knew I liked him. I was Team Harry, if there were teams or whatever." He continues, “We were in the room waiting for him to arrive, thinking it’s going to be this big event, and he just comes straight in, said, ‘Hi guys, how you doing?’ And comes over and hugs me, and then hugs Jake. Within 90 seconds, it was like talking to a normal person so I thought let’s just treat him accordingly, and we did.” The trio delved into everything – their grooming routines, Harry “squeezing his kids extra tight” on a hard day, the Invictus Games, and why “getting a sweat on” helps the royal stay mentally and physically healthy. Harry, 41, also proved unexpectedly competitive and animated when finishing off classic ad slogans and singing the ChuckleVision theme tune. “He was great, honestly, he was fantastic,” says Joe. “For him to be so generous with his time and give that up to us and be so open and up for a laugh, and also deal with topics like grief and trauma and what he’s so passionate about with JJ Chalmers and the Invictus Games was just incredible.” After spending 17 years as a professional rugby player, the last few years have been a steep learning curve about public opinion and fame. “I knew that there would be some level of backlash to whatever question or whatever answer he gave,” he reflects. “But I didn’t want that to stop me and Jake from being genuine and in the moment. I wanted him and us to be present and to have the experience. I didn’t want to overthink things or not ask a particular question because of how it might be received. But the level of vitriol that comes with him, the social media backlash... What is the matter with some people?” The episode was an extraordinary moment in what has been an extraordinary year for Joe, who retired from international rugby in November 2024. His life is more focused around his wife Daisy and their children – and retirement has given him a chance to reflect on the sacrifices they made during his rugby career. “You have to be incredibly selfish and self-driven, and you have to sacrifice a lot,” he shares. “And if you have a family they have to sacrifice a lot and get on board with it too. The only thing now is I probably have less time on my hands because I say yes to pretty much everything that sounds fun and exciting!” He currently has “a couple of projects bubbling away”, including his imminent second book, Joe Marler Vs The World, and stepping into some Lycra as "Mauler", one of the new Gladiators - something his children are excited about. “My kids love it, particularly my youngest boy. He’s probably the shyest of them, a Covid baby, and when I did Soccer Aid, we walked around the pitch and he wouldn’t let go of my hand, while the others just run off. We walked past Nitro and he says, ‘Daddy, it’s Nitro!’ He walked over like, ‘Hi, Nitro.’ And I’m like, ‘What? Who is this? You barely say hello to family members, but you’ve gone straight up to Nitro.’ “So when the call came in to say, ‘We’d like you to be a Gladiator if you fancy it,’ it was a definite yes. But then I asked if I could be the first Gladiator to wear baggy clothes. They told me, ‘That’s not really how we do Gladiators here, mate.’ So, I’m going to need a little bit of time to get as close to Gladiator-ready as possible.” Exercise still plays a huge role in not just Joe’s physical health but his mental health. In his 2020 autobiography, Loose Head: Confessions Of An (Un)Professional Rugby Player, he wrote about struggling with depression, anxiety and anger, and has since become a vocal campaigner for men’s mental health. “It still blows my mind that suicide is the biggest killer of men under 40. It’s baffling. If I have a platform and the ability to nudge the dial in the direction to stop men killing themselves, why wouldn’t I do that? “And maybe selfishly, the more I talk about it, the more I can try to understand being a better role model to my kids, particularly my two boys. It also helps me try and keep a constant check in with myself, because I’m still f***ing it up and getting it wrong, and processing a lot of what I need to stay on top of.” He’s now back into a good gym routine and taking his medications, and planning to find a therapist to help him “delve a bit deeper again”. He’s also determined to keep a handle on his workload and work-life balance, and to avoid adding unnecessary pressure or responsibilities. That more realistic approach to self-improvement ties in neatly to the Babybel Protein campaign Joe’s currently fronting, encouraging people to focus on simple, achievable changes rather than “life-maxxing” and chasing perfection. “You don’t have to do a million different things,” he says. “You don’t have to take on the latest fad, there’s just small changes you can make to your life to make things easier and better.” It helps that the campaign fits his family life - his children are “absolutely obsessed” with Babybels. While his post-Traitors life - with royal interviews and Gladiators - may still feel slightly surreal, Joe is determined not to take any of it for granted. “It’s such a cliché and so minging to say out loud, but there’s no other way of putting it – Traitors changed my life,” he says. “The last 12 months have been wild.” Joe Marler has teamed up with Babybel Protein for its ‘Fit It In’ campaign, encouraging Brits to embrace small, achievable healthy habits that fit into everyday life. Like this story? For more of the latest showbiz news and gossip, follow Mirror Celebs on TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Threads.