After weeks of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced all tension.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

From nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Traitors and loyal players competing for the winnings.

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

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, 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 was actually a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms 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 another, while a third called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot reaching £87,500.

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

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

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

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

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear 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 experience in the game.

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

"To be honest, I started the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I thought."

At the same time, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

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

The winner appeared at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player'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 saw them ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one did stick to his promise. But, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor looked like he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Before long, they were at the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

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

One contestant was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude 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 traitor was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Happily, the winner quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand a winner," he said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the final scene and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

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