After multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all tension.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition was revealed.

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Traitors and loyal players facing off for the winnings.

Soon, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the final players.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the other players that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Online platforms quickly erupted with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while a third described it as "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still left the nation in shock, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained why no one had ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

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

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work a second time!"

The final installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. There was a different start than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I started this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant 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.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at breakfast resembling a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got outstyled by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," said a player, while the other just giggled.

However, one adhered to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

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

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

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

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

A player was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," said the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally as a traitor.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. 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.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and now I stand the champion," he said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.