After multiple episodes of tension, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses details from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

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

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

From 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Before long, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the final players.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while someone else called it "the television highlight 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 giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still shocked viewers surprised, according to industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in traitor attire 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 does one eliminate someone who is so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

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

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would work a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than usual, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"To be honest, I started the competition a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented 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 in the episode, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Next up was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them ripping up images of former contestants. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," stated a player, while the other simply laughed.

However, one adhered to their agreement. But, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were similarly upset.

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

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," posted another user.

But there was little opportunity to dwell on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, just when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

A player was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their partner, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be betrayed last minute in that manner," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player calls the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, only three contestants were still competing: the final trio.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players comforted the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

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

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," he 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 touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.