The Traitors viewers have flooded a charity with support in just a few days (Picture: BBC/ Studio Lambert)
The Traitors fans have donated thousands to a charity that contestant Alexander Dragonetti wanted to donate any prize money he might have won to.
The former British diplomat, 38, made it to the final of the latest season of the BBC series, but was banished by fellow Faithfuls Jake Brown, Leanne Quigley and Francesca Rowan-Plowden at the last hurdle after they became concerned he might be a Traitor.
A few nights before, the remaining contestants had all spoken at a dinner party about what they would spend any of the winnings on if they got to the end.
Speaking on the show, Alexander told the others about his brother, who had global developmental delay and autism and died when he was just 17 years old.
‘I would like to give some money to a charity that I really care about,’ he shared before explaining how The Royal Mencap Society had helped his family.
‘My brother had special needs and used to go to a summer camp, and I’d like to send some money their way to keep it going because it gives parents a break.’
Alexander Dragonetti wanted to donate any winnings to The Royal Mencap Society (Picture: BBC/ Studio Lambert)
‘My parents did an incredible job with my brother and for them to get even a week a year…looking after someone with special needs can be a challenging job…these were a brilliant thing for my family, and I would love to help keep it going.’
Speaking to the camera in an emotional moment, Alexander, who also volunteered as a carer at Mencap for five years, said he was 24 when his brother died and how he’d ‘missed out on a lot’.
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Although Alexander wasn’t one of the eventual winners, viewers have thrown their support behind the charity he spoke about.
In the past few days, they’ve donated a staggering £17,000 since the finale aired on Friday.
Mencap, a charity that supports people with learning disabilities, has now spoken about the influx of support.
‘We are enormously grateful to Alexander for sharing his personal story about his brother, which has helped to raise awareness of people with a learning disability,’ the charity’s executive director of fundraising Mary O’Hagan told MailOnline.
However he was eventually banished by fellow Faithfuls at the final hurdle (Picture: BBC/ Studio Lambert)
‘And we must give a heartfelt thank you to Alexander’s fans who have been so touched by his story that they have made generous donations to Mencap.
‘These donations are needed now more than ever as people with a learning disability continue to face extensive inequalities every day.’
‘Every penny will help us ensure people with a learning disability can live happy and healthy lives,’ she added.
When watching the final episode of this season, many fans posted on social media about how to support Mencap.
After the donations rolled in, user bigwows wrote on X: ‘Chuffed to little bits to see donations rolling in to Mencap charity, presumably in appreciation of Alexander. It would be great if we could all raise more than the total prize money!’
Although Alexander was seemingly eliminated during the first episode of this season, he then returned and became a fan favourite.
Alexander became a fan favourite after returning to the competition (Picture: BBC)
Ahead of the finale he spoke about what he’d learnt about himself taking part in the series.
‘I’ve always struggled to be somebody who shows their emotions, not least because when my brother died, it was so overwhelming, so deeply emotional, that I just I struggled to go back there,’ he explained.
‘I try to shut all that off and I always think that if I make the best choices, I can avoid ever having to feel like that again. I think the game has really taught me of the importance of being vulnerable.
‘I think that’s something I learnt over the course of the game, that being messy and human and vulnerable is how you actually connect with people, and it’s something I’ll try to do more of.’
The Traitors is streaming on BBC iPlayer.
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