After weeks of suspense, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, betrayals, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all tension.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the prize.

Before long, the field narrowed to just three: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a surprising result that went viral and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "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 most effective player," commented one user.

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

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot reaching £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

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

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

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

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

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

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his time on the show.

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

Thursday evening's episode was extended to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began the competition a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," stated a player, while the other simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

But there was 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 gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. So did another, and it all came down to the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate his victory.

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

He also made light of that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the host 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 famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.