After weeks of suspense, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed murders, betrayals, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all suspense.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

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

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

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

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, according to industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one vote for a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would work again!"

Thursday evening's episode was extended to 70 minutes on television. It had an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

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

"Let's face it, I started this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that being in the final was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at the morning meal resembling a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Next up was the competition, with the final players boarding a train named - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for one participant who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't betray him," said one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

But there was no time to dwell on this departure. Soon, they were at the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players stood over the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the last participants.

One player, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the winner quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and here I am a winner," the winner said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally 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 famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.