Following weeks of tension, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This article discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors finale

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

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

From nineteen participants, only five remained: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the winnings.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You played amazingly," they consoled him. "Everything's fine."

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

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while someone else described it as "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot 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 entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

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

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

"Most people didn't target him because how does one eliminate someone who is so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated 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!"

The final episode was extended to 70 minutes on the network. There was an unusual opening than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, the comedian provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started the competition a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning in the episode, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

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

However, he got out-jacketted by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Next up was the competition, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

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 lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, pledging to stick together. "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 his promise. But, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said a commentator.

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

But there was little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

A player was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment in that manner," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy 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 the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. It will be remembered fondly.