Joe Marler on how mental health rocked his marriage, estranged parents and retiring from rugby
He also came up with the convincing 'big dog' theory...
Joe Marler proved himself to be more than just a defiant faithful earlier this year, and now the sports star has signed up for Celebrity Gogglebox’s Stand Up to Cancer special – but who is he?
Not only is he taking part to raise money for an incredible cause in the Christmas special, but he’s facing a fellow Celebrity Traitors star while doing it – Nick Mohammed. And now the pair are set to cosy up on a sofa for Celebrity Gogglebox, giving fans exactly the reunion they’ve been hoping for.
The duo were one of the standout partnerships of this year’s Celebrity Traitors, bonding in the final week before Nick’s sudden suspicion brought their alliance crashing down. His decision to banish Joe at the last roundtable helped clear the path for Alan Carr’s win, and it’s safe to say Joe hasn’t quite let it go.
In typical Marler fashion, he joked that the Gogglebox stint is the perfect chance to “stare Nick in the eye” and finally ask why he was “gleefully betrayed on national television”. Nick shot back that the sofa session is really Joe’s opportunity to apologise, admitting he fell for the misdirection completely.
And while the pair insist they’re now genuinely mates, both seem to agree that sitting shoulder to shoulder – with absolutely no escape – is probably the best way to rebuild what’s left of their trust.
But there’s more to him than his muscles. Here’s everything you need to know about Joe Marler, including his age, whether he is married – and why he’s just so beloved right now.
Who is Joe Marler on Celebrity Gogglebox and how old is he?
Joe was born on July 7, 1990. This makes him 35 years old. He grew up in East Sussex but little is know about his childhood – aside from his love of rugby.
Joe started playing for local club, The Eastbourne Sharks, when he was 11. He went on to play for the Sussex U14-18 team, as well as representing London and the South East in 2006.
When asked about his parents by The Times in 2022, however, Joe said they were no longer in touch. He told the publication: “I haven’t spoken to my mum for seven years and my dad for four.”
If his parents were still alive, Joe said at the time: “As far as I know.”
Joe Marler’s rugby career
Playing as a prop, Joe joined the Harlequins Academy in 2008 before joining the Twickenham team’s first side in 2009-10 season. He was an integral part in the team’s success.
In 2011, Joe was part of the Harlequins’ first-division squad which defeated the Leicester Tigers, seeing them win their first league titled. It was a feat they replicated in 2021.
In 2010, Joe joined England’s national rugby team, before being a regular in the starting line-up from 2013. In 2015, he was announced captain. This saw him lead the team to victory against France to win a grand slam title in 2016.
In total, Joe warned 95 caps, representing his country in three Rugby World Cups (2015, 2019, 2023) and lifting the Guinness Men’s Six Nations title in 2016, 2017 and 2020.
Why did Joe Marler retire?
Joe took a step back from the scrum in 2024. He said at the time: “The time has come to finally jump off the rollercoaster and walk away from this beautifully brutal game. After all these happy years, it’s over.”
He also said: “I’m incredibly grateful I got to play 95 times for my country. I have to pinch myself. Did I really do that?”
Is Joe Marler still married?
Joe married his wife Daisy in 2017, and the pair share four children together; Pixie, Maggie, Felix and Jasper.
Joe has previously spoken openly about his battle with his mental health. He previously admitted his relationship with Daisy struggled during “low points”.
Speaking on the High Performance podcast previously, Joe recalls a “low point” in his relationship after depression crept in.
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“[I was] punching the walls, punching the doors in,” he said. “I just left, I left her and said ‘I’m gone’.”
Joe added: “That image of her lying on the floor crying her eyes out seven months pregnant, like that’s burnt into my memory of my most ashamed I’ve been.”
Joe and Daisy are still married. In fact, the couple are stronger than ever. Joe has now becoming an advocate to get men talking about their emotional wellbeing.
Part of Joe’s decision to retire from rugby was so he could spend more time with his children.
Joe Marler on mental health
In 2020, Joe released the memoir Loose Head, which candidly looked at his mental health battles. He also spoke about taking antidepressants.
“It’s been helpful to accept you can still do your job on antidepressants,” he told The Guardian.
Joe also led Sky Sports documentary Big Boys Don’t Cry, which discussed mental health in high level sports.
“It’s important to talk and open up,” Joe said to GQ about the show. “By doing this documentary you’re encouraging others to talk. It’s helping me to make sure I practise what I preach.”
If you have been affected by any of the issues raised in this article, contact The Samaritans on 116 123. They are available for free at any time.
What is Joe Marler’s nickname?
He might look like a rugby hard-man, but Joe has quite the flaky nickname. In typical rugby boy style, Joe joked his players used to call him ‘croissant’.
Why? Well, it’s all to do the shape of a particular body part.
“The boys think I have a nose that looks like a French pastry,” he said in a 2020 post-match interview.
When is Celebrity Gogglebox on?
The Celebrity Gogglebox 2025 Stand Up to Cancer special takes place at 9.10pm on Friday, December 12 on Channel 4, perfectly positioned in the middle of the charity extravaganza’s busy line-up.
The night kicks off at 7.30pm as Adam Hills and Hannah Fry open proceedings with a live launch show, before Davina McCall takes the reins for Cancer Clinic Live.
From there, the spotlight moves to the famous sofas, where a rotating cast of celebrity armchair critics will deliver their one-night-only Gogglebox takes – expect big laughs, sharp observations and at least a few surprises.
Once the remote has been well and truly passed around, the evening signs off with an extended edition of The Last Leg, rounding off Channel 4’s annual Stand Up to Cancer marathon in style.
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