After weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming tension.

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

From nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the winnings.

Soon, the field narrowed to only three contenders: 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, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

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

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while a third called it "the television highlight of the year."

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

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still left the nation surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you eliminate someone who is so charming?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the program.

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to over an hour on the network. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at the morning meal resembling a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got outstyled by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

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

This task involved ripping up portraits of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to support each other. "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 his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in 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 viewers were similarly upset.

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

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," posted a different viewer.

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on their elimination. Before long, they were at the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"This pains me to be betrayed last minute in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Finally, only three contestants were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it could be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the champion quickly regained composure 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 here I am the champion," the winner said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the final scene and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.