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

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

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

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

From nineteen participants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

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

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms 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 a different person, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive 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 season.

But his win still left the nation in shock, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up why no one had truly doubted him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I don't think it would work again!"

Thursday evening's episode was extended to 70 minutes on television. It had an unusual opening than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"To be honest, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and traitor than I thought."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, several players seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't betray him," stated a player, while their partner just giggled.

However, one adhered to their agreement. Yet, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor looked like he was in a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

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

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

However, there remained no time to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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 at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant calls the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

One player, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and here I am the champion," the winner said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. It will be remembered fondly.