After weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through all tension.

However on Thursday night, the final winner of the first Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, only five remained: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while a third described it as "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

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

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal 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 does one 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 again!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to over an hour on television. There was a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

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

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

"Let's face it, I started this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

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

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

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

The challenge involved destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," stated a player, while their partner simply laughed.

However, one adhered to their agreement. But, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, 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 feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

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

However, there remained no time to dwell on this departure. Soon, they were at the endgame - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership 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 ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did another, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and here I am a winner," the winner said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward 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, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.