After weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition was revealed.

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking result that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

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

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

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

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have appeared to breakfast in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you vote for a person so charming?" asked a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would be successful again!"

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

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I started this game as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while another 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 fashion standout of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player'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.

The challenge involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said a player, while their partner just giggled.

And one adhered to their agreement. But, having slipped unnoticed for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "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 banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

However, there remained no time to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," said the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did another, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it will be in the running for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and here I am a winner," he said.

He also made light of that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene 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 surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.