Former rugby referee Nigel Owens also got in on the Midnight Gameshow
19:47, 17 Jan 2026Updated 19:49, 17 Jan 2026
Joe Marler was part of the Michael McIntyre Midnight Gameshow on BBC1(Image: BBC)
Welsh rugby referee-turned-farmer Nigel Owens and former player Adam Jones were part of a brilliant prank on Celebrity Traitors star Joe Marler. Former England rugby player, Marler, appeared on the first episode of the latest series of BBC1 hit show Michael McIntyre’s Big Show.
The premise of the Midnight Gameshow game is for a celebrity to be surprised in their own homes while fast asleep. They then have to face a series of challenges, all hosted by McIntyre, while half awake, and in Marler’s case half dressed.
The first challenge was for Marler to guess who three people were as they stood in a scrum formation so he could only see their bums.
Filming outside the house before they woke him, McIntyre was struggling to put a gum shield in, and Owens told him: “If he does decide to punch you, a gumshield isn’t going to make much difference”.
Nigel Owens was in charge of proceedings when they went into the house, warning Marler: “No nonsense, listen to the rules, not like you’ve done before” before the pair embraced.
In the first game, he immediately guessed Adam Jones, telling him: “If it’s who I think it is, you’re going to need some help my friend”. Then asking Owens if he was a fellow Welshman.
After the reveal, he told Jones: “We’re having words. Not now, but we’re having something”.
He then smiled and told him: “It’s really nice to see you though” to which Jones replied: “I haven’t seen you in ages”.
Welsh rugby prop and coach Jones was the first one he guessed, followed by Marler’s former PE teacher, nicknamed Chicken Legs, and Aussie George Gregan.
Owens, speaking in 2020 at a live recording of The Welsh Rugby Podcast, told a story of his own personal dealings with Marler.
A larger than life character, Marler always has a special greeting for the Welsh referee whenever the two cross paths. The England loose-head prop would always welcome Owens by saying “good morning” in Welsh, regardless of what time of day it was.
He then took part in a game of Traitors, with McIntyre dressed as a scarily convincing Claudia Winkleman.
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