Following multiple episodes of tension, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses details from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

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

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

Out of 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the final players.

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

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the other players that he was actually a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

"You did brilliantly," they consoled him. "Everything's fine."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while someone else called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

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

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"The majority didn't target him because how can you vote for a person so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

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

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would work again!"

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, the comedian provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies to save myself, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

The winner appeared at the morning meal resembling a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players boarding a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," stated a player, while their partner simply laughed.

And one did stick to his promise. But, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

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

However, there remained no time to focus on this departure. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

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

One contestant was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their partner, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players comforted the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the winner quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy his victory.

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

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.