Following weeks of tension, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling end

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced all tension.

However on Thursday night, the final winner of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Before long, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while someone else described it as "the TV moment of the year."

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

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

However, his victory still shocked viewers surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

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

"I want to participate once more... I don't think it would work again!"

Thursday evening's episode was extended to 70 minutes on television. It had a different start than usual, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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

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

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

This task saw them ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said a player, while the other simply laughed.

And one did stick to his promise. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

But there was no time to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant 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 like that," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Happily, the winner 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 here I am the champion," the winner said.

And he even made light of the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.