Latest news with #Dragonetti
BBC News
14-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Traitors star becomes learning disability charity ambassador
A finalist of The Traitors has teamed up with a learning disability charity to become its newest ambassador. Alexander Dragonetti appeared on the third series of the show and said if he had won he would have donated some of the prize money to Mencap, after the charity helped his late brother. Fans of the show have since helped raise £95,000 for the Peterborough-based charity, which Mr Dragonetti said was "nothing short of incredible".He said: "People with a learning disability still face stigma and exclusion every day - I want to help Mencap increase visibility of learning disability and hope that in doing so we can promote acceptance and inclusion." The charity announced the news on National Siblings Day on 10 April in a series of videos shared on social media. Previously speaking to BBC Radio 4, Mr Dragonetti said he did not know whether or not to talk publicly about his brother, who had global development delay and autism. He said: "I talked about a summer camp I used to attend. This was a place where he could shine. He could be himself, he'd have infinite attention, he could be silly and my parents could get a break."My brother was the most wonderful human being and I miss him so deeply. I also know how hard it can be for parents looking after children with special needs." The Traitors, which is filmed in the Scotland, sees contestants engage in challenges, "murders", roundtables and banishments to build up a prize pot of money. He said: "It's remarkable how many people have experience or are impacted by learning disability. Hearing their stories has been humbling, and often surprisingly moving. "I am also passionate about raising awareness, and am so excited to continue doing this. Being different isn't easy and I'm proud to play a role for an organisation that breaks down barriers and improves understanding." Jon Sparkes, the chief executive at Mencap, said the charity was "thrilled" to welcome Mr Dragonetti to the "family". "He has already done so much to raise awareness of our essential work by bravely sharing his family's story, and in doing so has opened people's minds about learning disability." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
12-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
The Traitors' Alexander Dragonetti lands new job after show success
The Traitors star Alexander Dragonetti is joining Classic FM to host a new Friday night series. The former British diplomat will host a five-part series titled, Trust Me, It's A Classic with Alexander Dragonetti, on the classical music station starting on Friday, 14 March. Dragonetti is best known for being a finalist in the most recent series of the BBC reality show, The Traitors, which followed 22 contestants as they completed a series of challenges and games in the Scottish Highlands. He said: 'I'm a big fan of Classic FM – so it's an honour to be part of such an iconic station. 'I love how it makes classical music so accessible, including people like me who are still learning. 'There's a saying that 'music isn't meant to be heard – it's meant to be felt'. I'd like to share the music that really makes me feel: happiness, joy, sadness, reflection; and see if it does the same for you.' Playing some of the biggest and most famous pieces of classical music, Dragonetti will also showcase his favourite pieces discussing why they are so special to him. They include Beethoven's Symphony No.7 which he first heard at university, a recording by singer Fatma Said that reminds him of his time as a diplomat in the Middle East, and Le Onde by Italian pianist Ludovico Einaudi, which helped him following the death of his young brother. Dragonetti, who was a faithful in the show, talked openly during The Traitors about his late brother, who had Global Developmental Delay and autism, saying in the event he won he would donate some of the prize money to Mencap, an organisation that supports people with learning disabilities. Since leaving the show, and despite not winning, . Philip Noyce, of Classic FM, said: 'He's just starred in one of the biggest TV programmes, so we're really excited to welcome Alexander to the Classic FM family as the host of our new Friday night series. 'His passion for classical music is infectious, so it's great that he's sharing his most faithful classics with our listeners over the next five weeks and telling us why we can put our trust in them.' The series will start on 14 March from 9pm-10pm.
Sky News
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News
Traitors' Alexander Dragonetti opens up about his brother's story as he reveals whether he is 'friends' with fellow contestants
The Traitors finalist Alexander Dragonetti has inspired people to donate more than £70,000 to a charity after he spoke about his brother's story on the show. In an interview on The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, Mr Dragonetti said more than £70,000 had been raised for Mencap, an organisation supporting people with learning disabilities. "The response has been fantastic. Anybody who supports or raises awareness on what to me is an incredibly important topic, I'm so incredibly grateful. The response has been fantastic." The former British diplomat opened up about how his late brother, who had Global Developmental Delay and autism, saying for a week a year his brother would go to a summer camp where he also volunteered to help other children. The 38-year-old described how his brother would be "the centre of attention", adding: "Everyone would flock around and he had this energy where he just drew people to him. And he was also slightly cooler than I was. I just stood there and waved, bathed in his reflected glory. It was such fun for him." Mr Dragonetti said his brother, who died aged 17, would have been really excited to see him appear on TV as part of the BBC show. He said while it is "fantastic having special needs children" it can also be "really challenging", adding: "Often parents don't have much of a voice. And if I can create or help to create that voice for parents to help get them the support they need, that would be probably my most proud outcome from the show." 'I was actually texting Leanne during the final episode' Mr Dragonetti did not win the latest series of The Traitors. He lost to project manager Jake Brown and former soldier Leanne Quigley, who won the £94,600 prize pot. But after a tense finale, is he still friends with his fellow contestants? "We actually are all friends now," he revealed. "I was actually texting Leanne during the final episode, saying 'I'm so sorry to have accused you,' and she was texting me saying, 'Oh my God, I got it so wrong.' "So we've actually become really close since the end of that. And it's been really nice to get to know each other in a slightly less pressurised way."
Yahoo
31-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Traitors' Alexander Dragonetti opens up about his brother's story as he reveals whether he is 'friends' with fellow contestants
The Traitors finalist Alexander Dragonetti has inspired people to donate more than £70,000 to a charity after he spoke about his brother's story on the show. In an interview on The UK Tonight With Sarah-Jane Mee, Mr Dragonetti said more than £70,000 had been raised for Mencap, an organisation supporting people with learning disabilities. "The response has been fantastic. Anybody who supports or raises awareness on what to me is an incredibly important topic, I'm so incredibly grateful. The response has been fantastic." The former British diplomat opened up about how his late brother, who had Global Developmental Delay and autism, saying for a week a year his brother would go to a summer camp where he also volunteered to help other children. The 38-year-old described how his brother would be "the centre of attention", adding: "Everyone would flock around and he had this energy where he just drew people to him. And he was also slightly cooler than I was. I just stood there and waved, bathed in his reflected glory. It was such fun for him." Mr Dragonetti said his brother, who died aged 17, would have been really excited to see him appear on TV as part of the BBC show. He said while it is "fantastic having special needs children" it can also be "really challenging", adding: "Often parents don't have much of a voice. And if I can create or help to create that voice for parents to help get them the support they need, that would be probably my most proud outcome from the show." Read more from Sky News: 'I was actually texting Leanne during the final episode' Mr Dragonetti did not win the latest series of The Traitors. He lost to project manager Jake Brown and former soldier Leanne Quigley, who won the £94,600 prize pot. But after a tense finale, is he still friends with his fellow contestants? "We actually are all friends now," he revealed. "I was actually texting Leanne during the final episode, saying 'I'm so sorry to have accused you,' and she was texting me saying, 'Oh my God, I got it so wrong.' "So we've actually become really close since the end of that. And it's been really nice to get to know each other in a slightly less pressurised way." Told he had "become the nation's sweetheart" and asked if he was still single, Mr Dragonetti said: "I am. No further comment."
BBC News
28-01-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Traitors' Alexander inspires fans to donate to Mencap
A Traitors finalist has helped boost donations to a learning disability charity by more than £46, Dragonetti told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire he was "so grateful" for donations to Mencap after the charity helped his late brother. During the series, the former British diplomat, who attended Oundle School, Northamptonshire, said if he won, he would donate some of his prize money to Sparkes, chief executive of the charity, said: "Telling his story has inspired a tremendous wave of generosity from the public." Mr Dragonetti, 38, said his brother, who had global development delay and autism, used to go to summer camps set up by he was voted out of the show in the final and did not win, Mr Dragonetti told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire his hope of donating some prize money was "effectively happening" as fans touched by his story had made donations."Anything I can do to try and raise the profile of that would be fantastic," he said."I know first-hand it's really hard for carers, parents, siblings of special needs children to both look after children and be political advocates, and if there is anything I can do to add my voice to that and be helpful then that would be my most proud takeaway."More than 2,000 people gave to the Peterborough-based charity, with some taking to social media to share their reasons and encouraging others to Sparkes said: "Despite not winning on Friday night, Alexander remained faithful to the end and captured the hearts of the nation – he is our champion."These donations are needed more now than ever as people with a learning disability continue to face extensive inequalities every day."Mary O'Hagan, Mencap's executive director of fundraising, said: "Every penny will help us ensure people with a learning disability can live happy and healthy lives."Additional reporting by PA Media. Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
