After weeks of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling end

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming tension.

However on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and left him emotional.

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

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

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

But his win still left the nation in shock, according to industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

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

"Most people didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" asked another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

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

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. It had an unusual opening than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us 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 under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Traitors Express.

The challenge involved ripping up images of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who was 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, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," stated one, while the other simply laughed.

And one did stick to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," commented a commentator.

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

However, there remained no time to focus on this departure. Before long, they were at 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, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the game. So did another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments 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 the occasional surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.