Following weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses details from Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced all suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the prize.

Before long, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that went viral and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "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 best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," stated a different person, while someone else 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 reaching 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.

But his win still left the nation in shock, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained why no one had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have appeared to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the show.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

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

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes 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 started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've murdered national treasures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

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

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

This task saw them ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," said one, while the other just giggled.

And one did stick to his promise. But, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

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

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did another, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and here I am the champion," the winner said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene 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 sometimes unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.