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

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article discloses details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all tension.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Traitors and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

Before long, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

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

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," 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 called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still shocked viewers surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up why no one had ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how can you eliminate a person so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the show.

"I'd like to participate once more... I don't think it would work a second time!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to 70 minutes on the network. It had an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as we recapped key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that being in the final was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing the previously eliminated 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.

However, he got outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them ripping up images of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said one, while the other simply laughed.

However, one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor 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."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

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

However, there remained no time to dwell on their elimination. Before long, they were at the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment in that manner," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to their former ally as a traitor.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand a winner," he said.

He also made light of that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the host in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually all happen. It will be remembered fondly.