After multiple episodes of tension, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated a different person, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

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

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, according to entertainment reporters.

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

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't target him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I want to participate once more... I don't think it would work a second time!"

The final installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, the comedian provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I began the competition a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I thought."

At the same time, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

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

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the competition, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved destroying 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, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said one, while the other simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"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 no time to focus on their elimination. Soon, they were at the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the fire pit. 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 ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to their former ally as a traitor.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment 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 commented.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," the winner said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.