After weeks of tension, plots and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling finale

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all suspense.

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

Out of nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Before long, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

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

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

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

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while a third described it as "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

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

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I don't think it would work a second time!"

The final episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. There was an unusual opening than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

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

"Let's face it, I started this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown 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 thought."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while someone else 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 castle, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

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

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

The challenge saw them ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who was hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," said one, while their partner just giggled.

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

The last deceiver appeared he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," posted a different viewer.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on this departure. Soon, the game reached the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment in that manner," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the champion quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.