Former England rugby player Joe Marler has revealed exactly how much he was paid to appear in the BBC's debut series of Celebrity Traitors.
Mr Marler's journey on Celebrity Traitors captivated audiences, with viewing figures reaching between 11.1 and 12 million for the finale.
The 35-year-old became a fan favourite through his strategic gameplay, particularly his "Big Dog" theory that successfully identified Jonathan Ross as a Traitor.
Despite correctly deducing that Cat Burns and Alan Carr were the remaining Traitors in the final, Mr Marler was eliminated when fellow contestant Nick Mohammed voted against him.
BBC Celebrity Traitors: Joe Marler
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The show concluded with comedian Mr Carr claiming victory and the £87,500 prize money for his chosen charity.
While the famous faces weren't competing to pocket the jackpot themselves, Mr Marler has now disclosed that he received £30,000 for his appearance on the show.
The figure contradicts widespread reports that all participants were paid £40,000 ahead of filming.
Mr Marler revealed all in a new interview in The Times, admitting that even his wife was left bemused by the reports.
BBC Celebrity Traitors: Joe Marler was a Faithful
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"She said to me, 'Hold on, I thought you only got 30?' I said, 'Yeah, I did,'" Mr Marler said. "I don't think everyone got paid the same."
The £40,000 figure originated from Marina Hyde's comments on The Rest Is Entertainment podcast, where she claimed the BBC paid all celebrities a "blanket £40k fee".
Despite earning less than the reported amount, Mr Marler remained philosophical about the compensation. "I'm not bothered. It was 30 grand whether you lasted two days or three weeks - a no-brainer," he explained.
The former prop forward, who retired from professional rugby last November, dropped the news about his pay packet in the same week that BBC executives confirmed a second celebrity series will air next year.
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BBC Celebrity Traitors: Joe Marler made it to the final
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Kalpna Patel-Knight, Head of Entertainment at the BBC, said as the news was announced: “Studio Lambert have done an outstanding job as The Celebrity Traitors has well and truly captivated the nation, becoming a bona fide highlight of the year, bringing record numbers of people together to enjoy every twist and turn.
"In 2026, the doors of the castle will be opened again to welcome celebrity players to the game to see who can charm, who can scheme and ultimately who can survive in series two which promises to be just as unmissable as the first.
"Plus, with Uncloaked returning and today’s news of the positive contribution The Traitors brand has made to Scotland’s economy, there is plenty to celebrate.”
The line-up remains a mystery for now, but according to early tips from bookmakers, some very famous faces could be heading to the famous Scottish castle - including a shock return for Mr Marler himself.
BBC Celebrity Traitors: Joe Marler and Kate Garraway
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After narrowly missing out on victory despite his suspicions all being proven correct, Mr Marler has been priced at just 2/1 to make a surprise comeback to the franchise.
He joins other famous faces such as Bob Mortimer, Danny Dyer, Graham Norton, Rebekah Vardy, Alison Hammond, and Daisy May Cooper, among others, tipped for the second series.
Darragh Harbinson, spokesperson for Esports Bets, said of the latest predictions: “The BBC’s decision to reboot their hugely popular Celebrity Traitors series for next year has ignited speculation as to who will appear in the 2026 series, with Bob Mortimer our early favourite.
“Mortimer is 4/6 to feature at the Round Table next autumn and he’s followed by another BBC regular, Graham Norton (8/11), in the betting.
“Meanwhile, Coleen Rooney who starred on I’m A Celeb is 3/1 for a sensational return to our screens in 2026.”