Following multiple episodes of suspense, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, betrayals, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming tension.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the prize.

Before long, the field narrowed to just three: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while someone else described it as "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, 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 series.

However, his victory still shocked viewers in shock, as noted by industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up why no one had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have appeared to breakfast in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"The majority didn't target him because how does one eliminate someone who is so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

"I want to participate once more... I don't think it would work a second time!"

The final installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than usual, as every celebrity 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 provided some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, several players seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

The winner appeared at the morning meal resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

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

The challenge saw them destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," stated one, while the other just giggled.

And one did stick to their agreement. But, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

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

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," posted a different viewer.

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

The final four gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be betrayed last minute like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls the other 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 another, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

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

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy his victory.

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

He also made light of that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.