Following weeks of tension, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling finale

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece reveals details from Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, betrayals, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

Out of 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a surprising result that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented one user.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

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

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

The winner stated 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 extended to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who would appear at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, various contestants seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them destroying portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit on the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said a player, while the other just giggled.

However, one adhered to his promise. Yet, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

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

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

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"This pains me to be betrayed last minute in that manner," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by another, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand a winner," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.