In an unexpected twist, a finalist from the popular show Celebrity Traitors shockingly disclosed that they had been kissed by a murderer while on a bus.
Joe Marler, a former England rugby star aged 35, narrowly missed out on victory to comedian Alan Carr in the dramatic finale of the BBC series aired on Thursday, November 6.
Recounting the unsettling incident, Joe revealed that as a young boy, he was kissed by a stranger on a bus who later turned out to be a fugitive wanted for murdering his wife, leaving Joe in disbelief.
During an episode of the Happy Hour podcast, Joe recalled the peculiar encounter that took place on a bus en route to Eastbourne, East Sussex. He mentioned how a man resembling actor Oliver Reed confronted him and his friends after they were being rowdy.
The Celebrity Traitors participant described the escalating situation, saying the man grabbed him and unexpectedly planted a kiss on his lips, leaving Joe bewildered. Fortunately, the bus driver intervened and ejected the man after witnessing the incident on the bus’s camera.
Despite reporting the incident to the authorities, it wasn’t until a couple of weeks later that Joe learned the shocking truth. The police informed his family that the man, who assaulted Joe, was already facing a life sentence for the murder of his wife in Basildon.
In a final commentary on the matter, Joe remarked that the fugitive should not have engaged in such behavior if he was attempting to evade capture for his crime.
Despite correctly identifying the three Traitors on the show – Alan Carr, Jonathan Ross, and Cat Burns – Joe failed to persuade his fellow contestants and was eliminated in the final round.