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<\/p>\nFormer rugby referee Nigel Owens also got in on the Midnight Gameshow<\/p>\n
19:47, 17 Jan 2026Updated 19:49, 17 Jan 2026<\/p>\n
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Joe Marler was part of the Michael McIntyre Midnight Gameshow on BBC1(Image: BBC)<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After the reveal, he told Jones: “We’re having words. Not now, but we’re having something”.<\/p>\n
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”.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Owens, speaking in 2020 at a live recording of The Welsh Rugby Podcast<\/a>, told a story of his own personal dealings with Marler.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n He then took part in a game of Traitors, with McIntyre dressed as a scarily convincing Claudia Winkleman.<\/p>\n Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here<\/a>. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice<\/a><\/p>\n