Following multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming tension.

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

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that went viral and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

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

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player 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, of all people, executing an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants explained 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," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

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

The final installment was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

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

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal resembling a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them destroying images of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player 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 roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," stated a player, while their partner just giggled.

However, one did stick to their agreement. But, managing to stay unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Social media and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," wrote a different viewer.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on this departure. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

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

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they said.

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

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

And he even made light of the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.