Following weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming tension.

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

From nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated a different person, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants explained why no one had truly doubted him.

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

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

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

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

The final installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs were aware who would appear at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as we recapped key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated 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 "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while another 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 castle, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared 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 outstyled by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

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

This task involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for one participant who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," stated a player, while the other just giggled.

And one adhered to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

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

However, there remained no time to focus on their elimination. Before long, they were at the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

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

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

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," he said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.