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

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

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

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

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that went viral and made him tearful.

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

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, executing a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might 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.

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

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I want to do it again... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

The final episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. There was an unusual opening than typical episodes, as every celebrity were aware who would appear at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

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

"To be honest, I began this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that being in the final was "way more stressful than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, several players appeared to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got out-jacketted by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

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

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while their partner just giggled.

However, one adhered to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

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

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand a winner," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.