Following weeks of tension, schemes and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses key moments from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all suspense.

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

Out of nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated a different person, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have appeared to breakfast in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the program.

"I want to do it again... I doubt it would work again!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to over an hour on the network. It had an unusual opening than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as we recapped 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 an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant noted that being in the final was "way more stressful than competing with England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from the previously eliminated style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a train named - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them destroying portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said one, while their partner simply laughed.

However, one adhered to his promise. But, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," wrote a different viewer.

But there was no time to dwell on their elimination. Before long, they were at the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where the other players comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they said.

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

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

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.