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

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from Celebrity Traitors finale

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

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

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the remaining contestants.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking result 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 did brilliantly," they consoled him. "It's all right."

Online platforms quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

"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, will receive all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation 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, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him maintaining composure through one of his own punchlines."

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

"Alan could have appeared to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"The majority didn't target him because how can you eliminate someone who is so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's episode was extended to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

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

True to form, the comedian gave us unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I thought."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with England", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

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

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

Following this was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "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 eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," wrote another user.

However, there remained 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 gathered around the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and it all came down to the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," the winner said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the host in the final scene and making contact.

"There's 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 all happen. And we will miss it.