Following weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling finale

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece discloses details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

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

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the prize.

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result 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 played amazingly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Social media immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while someone else called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, 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 comic relief to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still left the nation surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

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

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

"He might have appeared to breakfast in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" asked a different contestant.

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

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

The final episode was extended to 70 minutes on the network. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on of the finale, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a train named - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," stated a player, while their partner just giggled.

And one did stick to his promise. But, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

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

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," said the eliminated player. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls the other by a betrayer's name.

Finally, just three players were still competing: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

He also made light of that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.