After weeks of suspense, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece reveals details from Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced all suspense.

However on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

Out of nineteen participants, only five remained: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Social media immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote a viewer.

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

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

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

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, according to entertainment reporters.

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

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants explained 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 deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

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

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

"I want to do it again... I doubt it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

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 provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I started this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "way more stressful than competing with England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

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

Carr emerged at breakfast resembling a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was outstyled by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Next up was the challenge, with the remaining contestants getting on board a train named - naturally - The Traitors Express.

The challenge involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Social media and onlookers were similarly upset.

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

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," wrote another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the endgame - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant 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 at the final moment in that manner," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally as a traitor.

Finally, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

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

Happily, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," he said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.