After weeks of suspense, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the other players that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

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

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still left the nation in shock, according to industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing an expert performance in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," a player said.

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

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

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

The final episode was extended to over an hour on television. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, the comedian gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, several players appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

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

This task saw them ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

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

However, one did stick to his promise. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor looked like he was in a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

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

However, there remained no time to focus on this departure. Soon, the game reached the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants remained in the game: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. So did another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

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

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," he said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.