Following weeks of tension, plots and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses details from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all suspense.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while someone else described it as "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot reaching £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you eliminate someone who is so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his time on the show.

"I want to participate once more... I don't think it would work a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity were aware who would appear at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and player than I thought."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, various contestants appeared to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the challenge, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said a player, while their partner simply laughed.

And one did stick to their agreement. But, having slipped unnoticed for the majority of the competition, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

But there was no time to focus on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be betrayed last minute like that," said the eliminated player. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the final trio.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the winner quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and here I am a winner," he said.

He also made light of that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.