Following multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all suspense.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the remaining contestants.

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

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," 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."

Online platforms quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the total amount reaching £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

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

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

During follow-up conversations, 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 still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

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

"I want to do it again... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to 70 minutes on television. There was a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

True to form, the comedian provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant commented that being in the final was "way more stressful than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast resembling a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

Next up was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the cover of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't betray him," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay unnoticed for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against that player to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," wrote another user.

But there was no time to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the endgame - which was what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, just when it was most crucial, 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 betrayed player calls their former ally as a traitor.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

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

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

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.