Alexander Dragonetti, the former British diplomat and contestant on BBC’s The Traitors, didn’t take home any winnings, but he definitely won nationwide hearts. His exceptional singing skills, dynamic badminton showdowns, and empathetic demeanour made him a major hit with the audience, particularly following his theatrical comeback post the initial train exit in the debut episode.
Thanks to his immense popularity, fans raised a staggering £60,000 for the Mencap charity, a cause Dragonetti had promised to support in the event of a victory. This organisation, which aids individuals with learning disabilities, was immensely supportive of Alexander’s late brother when he was alive.
Reflecting on the incredible response from the public, Alexander recently appeared on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, speaking with hosts Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley. In a clip of the interview shared online, Garraway is heard saying to Dragonetti: “What was so special was the way you talked about your brother, who obviously had all these challenges, and what he gave you.”
She continued, highlighting an important aspect: “I think that’s often something that people forget when they have a sibling or a parent or someone in their live that had those challenges, that actually the person who is more neurotypical or however you phrase it, is winning as well. Tell us what he meant to you.”
Alexander opened up about his deep bond with his brother, saying: “My relationship with him was everything, he was just the happiest guy. People say this about people but he lit up rooms… He was just so much cooler than his brother and I loved that”, reports Yorkshire Live.
Recalling cherished memories from Mencap summer camps, he described them as ‘one of the happiest periods of his life’, emphasizing the importance of being a protector to his sibling. “I could see my whole life I’d be his protector. That would be my job. That was so important to me, and therefore his loss was equally really hard,” Alexander shared with Richard.
Reflecting on the support his brother received from the charity, he said: “That was probably the week he looked forward to the most, because he’d be infinitely silly and he’d have infinite attention. He just loved that.”
He also acknowledged the respite it provided for his parents: “And what it meant to my parents is that they got a break for a week and they could go and do some other stuff. That week even in amongst a year matters so much.”
The emotional video posted on the GMB X’s social platform has garnered numerous supportive comments, with one viewer calling him: “What a lovely young man,” and another suggesting he might be “probably the nicest man in the UK”.