After weeks of suspense, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming tension.

However on Thursday night, the final winner of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that went viral and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, 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 eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up why no one had ever really suspected him.

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

"Most people didn't target him because how does one vote for a person so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the show.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work a second time!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I thought."

At the same time, a different player noted that being in the final was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on of the finale, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants getting on board a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," said a player, while their partner just giggled.

However, one adhered to his promise. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver appeared he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

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

But there was little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, they were at the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," said the eliminated player. Subsequently, 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 last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Happily, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," he said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.