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

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Traitors and loyal players competing for the prize.

Soon, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the other players that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they consoled him. "It's all right."

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

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

But his win still left the nation surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

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

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

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

"I'd like to participate once more... I don't think it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

As ever, the comedian gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started the competition 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."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on of the finale, several players appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge involved destroying portraits of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," stated one, while the other just giggled.

However, one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "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 hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," wrote a different viewer.

But there was little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls the other by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where remaining contestants consoled the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, 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 a winner," the winner said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.