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

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and loyal players facing off for the prize.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media immediately exploded with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

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

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot reaching £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the series.

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

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

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

"He might have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"The majority didn't target him because how can you vote for someone who is so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the program.

"I'd like to participate once more... I don't think it would work again!"

Thursday evening's installment 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 breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

As ever, the comedian provided some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I thought."

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

In the beginning in the episode, several players appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

The winner appeared at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

Next up was the challenge, with the final players boarding a train named - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them destroying portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for one participant who was hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said one, while their partner just giggled.

However, one adhered to his promise. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

But there was no time to focus on this departure. Soon, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

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

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

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and now I stand the champion," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.