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

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the first Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the prize.

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

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

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while a third called it "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot reaching £87,500.

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

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing an expert performance in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up why no one had truly doubted him.

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

"Most people didn't vote for him because how can you vote for a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the show.

"I want to do it again... I don't think it would work again!"

The final installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as we recapped some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

At the same time, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning in the episode, various contestants appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players boarding a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task involved destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," stated a player, while their partner simply laughed.

And one did stick to their agreement. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," commented a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," posted another user.

But there was little opportunity to focus on this departure. Before long, they were at the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, 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 betrayed last minute like that," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they said.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over 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 the occasional surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.