After multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece discloses key moments from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

From nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the winnings.

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

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

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third described it as "the TV moment of the year."

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

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still left the nation in shock, according to entertainment reporters.

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

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

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how can you eliminate someone who is so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

"I want to do it again... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was extended to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than usual, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

As ever, the comedian provided unforgettable quotes.

"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 national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players appeared to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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

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

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the cover of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

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

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

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were similarly upset.

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

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," posted another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely 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.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the final trio.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players consoled the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand a winner," the winner said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

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