Following weeks of suspense, plots and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

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

From nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," stated another, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still left the nation surprised, according to industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained the reasons nobody 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.

"The majority didn't target him because how can you vote for a person so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the program.

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

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

Early on of the finale, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

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

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," stated one, while the other simply laughed.

However, one adhered to his promise. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver 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, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

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

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

However, there remained no time to focus on their elimination. Before long, they were at the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls the other by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

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

And he even made light of that infamous murder - 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 trademark giggle.

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.