Why Traitor's Alexander attended Starmer's defence speech
Unfortunately for Alexander on Monday morning, suspicion was on him once again.
Why was a runner up on one of the country's biggest television shows standing with a pack of journalists to hear Sir Keir Starmer deliver a speech on the UK Government's long-awaited strategic defence review?
Alexander was a far cry away from the luxury Scottish castle in the Highlands where The Traitors is filmed. This time, he was in Govan, at the BAE Systems shipyard, where the Prime Minister announced the country was preparing to be 'battle ready' against cyber threats and Russia.
It was a rousing speech, one that sent alarm bells across the country. But for me, a self-proclaimed Traitors superfan, I needed to know: why was Alexander here?
Once I had plucked up the courage to ask him, Alexander shared that he had been invited as a guest of No 10.
The former diplomat has used his growing platform on social media and his strong understanding of politics to explain key news events on TikTok, making him a key asset to the UK Government.
The video, shorter than one minute long, reached more than 81,000 people in under 24 hours.
He helps his followers understand the significant change in tone from the Prime Minister - Britain now needed to be on the war footing, to be prepared and stronger than ever.
What is also a change is the approach from the UK Government in making sure that news reaches the widest possible audience.
Alexander Dragonetti poses for a photo with political correspondent Rebecca McCurdy. (Image: Newsquest) Are we now entering an era where influencers and celebrities join journalists at private press events? It certainly seems so.
You could make the case that this is not the best use of government time or resources.
But for UK Government officials, Alexander's platform from The Traitors, and his diplomatic experience, makes him the right man for the job.
Would a video of the Prime Minister declaring war-readiness on his own TikTok or social media platforms attracted such a wide ranging audience so quickly? Probably not.
I have to be honest, I'm not complaining either. If I send my mum a photo of me interviewing a politician, she doesn't bat an eyelid. It doesn't matter to her.
But Alexander from The Traitors? That blew up the family group chat.
There is of course concern around influencer access to government speeches though.
Journalists are bound by strict codes of conduct after years of training.
There isn't much doubt that Alexander's video would have been useful to the UK Government and to the wider public, given his former career.
Was he paid for the trip? I don't know. Presumably his travel would be, at least.
But let's ensure that our politicians are careful with the level of access social media influencers can bring. It must not be used to advertise controversial government decisions.
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