After weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses key moments from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the winnings.

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet 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 a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You played amazingly," they consoled him. "Everything's fine."

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 more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while someone else described it as "the television highlight of the year."

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

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

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

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

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 still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"The majority didn't target him because how does one vote for a person so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

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

Thursday evening's episode was extended to over an hour on the network. There was a different start than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began the competition as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've eliminated national treasures openly. Apparently I'm a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" 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 the previously eliminated style leader.

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

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

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

The challenge saw them destroying portraits of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said one, while their partner just giggled.

However, one did stick to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still got the most votes.

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

Online platforms and viewers were similarly upset.

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

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

However, there remained no time to dwell on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. 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.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," he said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene and making contact.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.