After weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses key moments from Celebrity Traitors finale

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced all suspense.

However on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the series.

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

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

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

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity were aware who would appear at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

True to form, the comedian gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

At the same time, 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 lasted this long.

Early on of the finale, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

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

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

This task involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Finally, just three players were still competing: the final trio.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and here I am the champion," he said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene 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 the occasional surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.