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Claudia Winkleman apologises to The Traitors contestant after agonising finale

Winkleman admitted that she has been inundated with messages about Alexander

Greg Evans
Saturday 25 January 2025 10:25 GMT
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The Traitors host Claudia Winkleman has apologised to fan-favourite Alexander Dragonetti following Fridayā€™s (24 January) thrilling season three finale.

Warning: This article does contain major spoilers for The Traitors season three

The tense final episode saw Faithfuls Jake and Leanne crowned as the winners, sharing the prize money of Ā£94,600 between them. However, there could have been more triumphant players as both Alexander and Frankie, who were also Faithfuls, were banished just moments before the winners were confirmed.

The outcome of the finale left some viewers unhappy, especially as many of them were rooting for Alexander. The 38-year-old former British diplomat has won over many fans thanks to his gentlemanly demeanour.

Speaking on Fridayā€™s spin-off show The Traitors: Uncloaked, Winkleman apologised to Alexander for previously announcing that he was single, revealing that sheā€™s been swamped with requests from her friends to ā€œdefine how singleā€ he is.

ā€œIā€™m so sorry that I reported to the group that you were single. Iā€™ve had more messages about you, you are... youā€™re king!ā€ said Winkleman.

Turning to the cheering audience she asked: ā€œHe is right?ā€

Winkleman then added: ā€œMore messages from friends of mine who were like ā€˜define singleā€™.ā€

Frankie then chimed in to add: ā€œAll my divorced friends have WhatsApped me like, ā€˜Can I have his number?ā€™ā€

Winkleman also said that someone had asked ā€œWhat does he smell like?ā€ A bashful-looking Alexander replied, with a grin on his face: ā€œPlease donā€™t ask me that.ā€

Alexander on ā€˜The Traitors: Uncloakedā€™
Alexander on ā€˜The Traitors: Uncloakedā€™ (BBC)

Writing in The Independent, Hannah Ewens praised Alexander, calling him ā€œthe nicest man in England,ā€ adding that he ā€œwas the only Faithful to have his wits about him and offer genuine analysis, even vaguely applying logic to situations, a foreign concept to the rest of them.

ā€œAfter being informed by the ultimate wingwoman Winkleman that Alexander was single, audiences found his Hinge profile, which tells potential matches that his simple pleasures include ā€˜buying fruit Iā€™ve never seen beforeā€™. This man is an angel!ā€

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Alexander from ā€˜The Traitorsā€™
Alexander from ā€˜The Traitorsā€™ (Cody Burridge/BBC/PA Wire)

Charlotte, who was the only remaining Traitor, was the first person eliminated from the final episode. If the remaining four contestants had trusted each other, they all could have shared the grand prize. However, new rules prevented anyone who was in the final from revealing if they were a Traitor or a Faithful as they left the show.

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