Mako Marler to become Gladiators' first celebrity contestant in 2027 return

Marler takes name Mauler for Gladiators revival

Mako Marler has been confirmed as the BBC's first celebrity contestant for the upcoming revival of Gladiators. The former England rugby union prop will compete under the Gladiator name Mauler when series four airs in 2027.

The BBC is opening its casting beyond the current Gladiator roster, recruiting high-profile athletes from outside traditional combat sports for the first time. Celebrity heats are standard on Gladiators formats in the United States, Australia, and Germany, and the corporation is following that international pattern while keeping the core competitive structure intact.

Marler, 29, earned 39 caps for England between 2014 and 2021, representing his country at the 2015 and 2019 Rugby World Cups. He spent the majority of his club career at Leicester Tigers, where he established himself as one of the Premiership's most physical props. The corporation has not yet disclosed which events Marler will compete in or who his opponents will be.

Series four of the revived Gladiators is scheduled to air in 2027, continuing the programme's format that debuted on the BBC in 2024 after a 21-year hiatus from British television. Retired contact-sport athletes are suited to Gladiators events, and the physical demands align closely with the conditioning of former rugby players, footballers, and boxers. Marler's profile as an England international brings recognition across demographics, particularly among viewers who do not follow combat sports regularly.

Marler has not made a public statement about joining Gladiators. Since retiring, he has remained quietly involved in the sport through grassroots development programmes in the Midlands. Former Leicester Tigers teammate George Kruis, who earned over 40 England caps, is said to react with a mixture of pride and amusement when the news surfaces in conversation.