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

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through all tension.

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

From 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

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

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount reaching £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

But his win still shocked viewers in shock, according to industry observers.

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

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

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

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

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

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

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

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, the comedian provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, several players appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at breakfast 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. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," said one, while their partner just giggled.

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

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and onlookers were similarly upset.

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

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

But there was little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four 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 partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls the other by a betrayer's name.

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

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players consoled the champion was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, 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 a winner," he said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.