After weeks of suspense, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced all tension.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the winnings.

Soon, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking result that went viral 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 feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while a third described it as "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, according to entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, executing a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up why no one had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have appeared to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how can you vote for someone who is so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would work a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. There was an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

At the same time, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at breakfast looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got out-jacketted by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the challenge, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them destroying images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE 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, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said one, while the other just giggled.

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

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were similarly upset.

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

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," wrote another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, they were at the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"This pains me to be betrayed last minute like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, 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 a different player, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the champion quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am the champion," he said.

And he even made light of the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.