Following multiple episodes of tension, schemes and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while a third 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 giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers in shock, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants explained why no one had ever really suspected him.

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

"Most people didn't target him because how can you vote for someone who is so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

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

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

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

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

As ever, the comedian gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and traitor than I thought."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted 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, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was outstyled by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them destroying 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.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while the other just giggled.

And one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

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

But there was little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, they were at the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

A player was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their partner, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be betrayed last minute like that," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Finally, just three players remained in the game: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene 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 commented.

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

"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 joked about that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - 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, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. It will be remembered fondly.