After weeks of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming tension.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

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

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

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

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms 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," wrote another, 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.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still left the nation in shock, as noted by industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through his comedy routines."

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

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

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

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had an unusual opening than typical episodes, as all the celebs 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.

True to form, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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 outstyled by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," said a player, while their partner just giggled.

However, one did stick to his promise. But, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

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

Online platforms and viewers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Before long, the game reached the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, 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 predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," the winner said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.