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

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

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through all tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

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

Soon, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the final players.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a surprising result that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the other players that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," stated a different person, while someone else described it as "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

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

"The idea of Alan, of all people, executing a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants explained why no one had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could 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.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how can you vote for a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his time on the show.

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

Thursday evening's episode was extended to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"Let's face it, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies to save myself, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" 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 the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

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.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor looked like he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

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

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

But there was little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their partner, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Finally, only three contestants were still competing: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. The same decision was made by another, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the scene where the other players comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

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

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.