After weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

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

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

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

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

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," 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. "Everything's fine."

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented one user.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot reaching £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

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

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

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

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would be successful again!"

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

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"Let's face it, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered national treasures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I thought."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the challenge, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

The challenge involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said one, while their partner just giggled.

And one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

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

But there was no time to focus on their elimination. 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, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their partner, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it could be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

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

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am 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 famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.