The learning disability charity Mencap has received more than £50,000 in donations because of a contestant on the hit BBC show The Traitors. 

Alexander Dragonetti revealed in the latter stages of the programme that if he won, he would donate some of his prize money to the charity because of the support it provided his late brother, who had global development delay. 

Dragonetti did not win any money but the charity said it had since received more than £50,000 from more than 4,000 donations because of his comments. 

Jon Sparkes, chief executive of Mencap, said Dragonetti’s story had “inspired a tremendous wave of generosity” from the public. 

He said the support the charity had received was “overwhelming”, saying: “We are really grateful to Alexander for courageously sharing his personal story about his late brother, who had a learning disability, on The Traitors.

"We know that when the experiences of people with a learning disability, and their loved ones, are represented in the media, it helps to change attitudes and make our society more inclusive.

“These donations are needed more now than ever as people with a learning disability continue to face extensive inequalities every day.”