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

Spoiler alert - This article reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, betrayals, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all suspense.

However on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

From 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Traitors and loyal players competing for the winnings.

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

In the end, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," 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. "It's all right."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

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

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

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

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have appeared to breakfast in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"The majority didn't target him because how does one eliminate someone who is so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

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

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

Thursday evening's episode was extended to over an hour on the network. There was an unusual opening than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I started the competition a bit of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

Next up was the challenge, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was 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 beforehand, pledging to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," said a player, while the other just giggled.

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

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented a commentator.

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

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

The last players gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, just when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants were still competing: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the final scene and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.