After multiple episodes of tension, schemes and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

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

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third 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 reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the series.

But his win still shocked viewers in shock, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you eliminate a person so charming?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I want to do it again... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

The final episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

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

"Let's face it, I began this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got outstyled by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

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

This task involved destroying images of former contestants. Have sympathy for one participant who managed to get hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," said one, while the other just giggled.

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

The last deceiver appeared 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, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls the other as a traitor.

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

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," he said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.