After weeks of suspense, schemes and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses details from Celebrity Traitors finale

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through the overwhelming tension.

However on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

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

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," stated another, while someone else called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still shocked viewers in shock, according to entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up 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 target him because how can you vote for a person so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

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

"I'd like to participate once more... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to over an hour on the network. There was a different start than usual, as every celebrity were aware who would appear 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' time in the castle.

As ever, the comedian provided some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning 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 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

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

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

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

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," stated a player, while their partner simply laughed.

However, one did stick to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared 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 onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," posted another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on this departure. Before long, they were at the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.