Following weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

Spoiler alert - This article reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through all tension.

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

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Soon, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You played amazingly," they consoled him. "Everything's fine."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated a different person, while a third described it as "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how can you vote for a person so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the show.

"I want to do it again... I doubt it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a train named - naturally - The Traitors Express.

The challenge involved destroying images of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said one, while the other just giggled.

However, one adhered to their agreement. But, managing to stay unnoticed for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," posted another user.

But there was little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, they were at the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be betrayed last minute in that manner," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by another, and it all came down to the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be a contender for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am the champion," the winner said.

And he even made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.