Celebrity Traitors star pipped for top BBC presenting job after wining over fans with his sleuth skills
Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler has reportedly been tipped to front a primetime BBC show after bosses were left impressed by his investigative abilities
Until Celebrity Traitors, former professional rugby player Joe Marler's name was not widely known to anyone who wasn't a sports fan. But, after becoming the show's dark horse and achieving his surprise popularity with his co-stars and fans, BBC bosses are lining him up for a top presenting role.
Joe left the nation glued to their screens on the penultimate episode of the show as he called out comedian Alan Carr and singer Cat Burns for being Traitors, which if he could prove, could land him with the £100,000 cash prize.
According to the Mail, BBC bosses have been eyeing him up throughout the series and it reportedly looks as though the broadcaster's new controller Kate Phillips is keen on him too.
A TV insider told the publication: "The BBC is constantly looking for new talent and the second he stopped playing rugby, there were eyes on him. Bosses knew that getting him on Traitors would be a very good shop window for him and they could test whether or not the viewers would like him. As soon as they saw it, they knew he would be someone the British public would adore and they seem to be right."
The added: "At the same time, he himself is ready for a new career after retiring from rugby. He has long wanted to present from a BBC sofa and The One Show is one of his favourite programmes. To anchor that would be his dream."
Joe's appeal was set in stone following his appearance on Michael McIntyre's quiz show The Wheel, which was seen by an estimated five million people.
One guest told Joe that he was her hero for being candid about his struggle with severe depression. The pair gave each other a hug. And shortly after she informed him that he inspired her to take up playing rugby. He then helped a cancer survivor win £110,000.
In retrospect there have been signs that Joe was looking to generate a career on TV as he told listeners on his podcast recently that he was bowing out after five years.
While on Things People Do, he shared: "Alright you lovely lot, so it's time for me to say goodbye – or maybe see you later. After a lot of chats, laughs and the odd awkward silence, my time has come to an end. I'll still be out there somewhere, probably in my garden, probably annoying Daisy and the kids, but for now, this chapter closes."
Former Celebrity Traitors contestant Kate Garraway has tipped Alan Carr to win the BBC show. While on Romesh Ranganathan's BBC Radio 2 show, she said the celebrities asked two questions which they all knew to be true.
And then they were asked if they were a traitor or not. But Alan appeared to look nervous even when answering the question they all knew to be true.
She explained: "The flaw in the plan was everybody slightly flickered, their eyes changed so when you say 'are you a mother of five' they just go yes because they're relaxed about that. But on every single one Alan looked guilty, even on the ones that were true. So therefore I think his thing is that he looks guilty and the more he mucks up and the more he sweats and the more he can't get out loud I'm a Faithful, then the more it plays in to 'Alan's just being Alan'. And I think that's going to be the genius."
Earlier in the Celebrity Traitors special, she claimed he could easily win the show. She said: "I think he's going to win. I don't know. I'm going to say it now."
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