Joe Marler

Biography

Joe Marler is a former professional rugby player turned broadcaster, author and mental health advocate, who earned more than 75 caps for England during his rugby career. He co-hosts the podcast Things People Do with Tom Fordyce, meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary work, and created the BBC podcast Joe Marler Will See You Now, where he undertakes the role of enthusiastic amateur therapist/analyst to an array of famous names. He was a popular contestant on the first series of The Celebrity Traitors, reaching the final round and winning audiences over with his humour, authenticity and unpredictable gameplay.

Joe played his entire club career at Harlequins as a loosehead prop, winning two Premiership titles and the European Challenge Cup across more than 200 appearances before retiring from professional rugby. He became one of the sport's most recognisable personalities, known equally for his performances on the pitch and his openness off it. Following retirement, he has been a passionate advocate for mental health, and serves as an ambassador for CALM. He also maintains a connection to his sport via his role at England Rugby as a Player Liaison Officer. Joe teamed up with Sky Sports to create Big Boys Don't Cry, a documentary following his journey across the UK to learn how others manage their mental wellbeing. He is also the author of Loose Head: Confessions of an (Un)professional Rugby Player, shortlisted for the Telegraph Rugby Book of the Year, which chronicles his path from being a self-described fat kid with the nickname Psycho to playing (and partying) with rugby's greatest professionals.

Joe explores mental health, resilience and the realities of high-performance sport, drawing from his experiences navigating pressure, setbacks and the challenges of professional rugby whilst maintaining authenticity and openness about his own struggles. He addresses how to manage wellbeing, handle adversity and remain genuine in environments that demand dedication and peak performance.