Following multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

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

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming tension.

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

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

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

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

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the other players that he was actually a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

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

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while someone else described it as "the TV moment 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 strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

But his win still left the nation surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, executing an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players explained the reasons nobody 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. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"The majority didn't target him because how can you eliminate someone who is so charming?" asked a different contestant.

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

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

The final installment was lengthened to over an hour on television. There was a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who would appear at the breakfast table.

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

As ever, the comedian gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started this game as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared 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 a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

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

This task saw them destroying portraits of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

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

And one adhered to their agreement. Yet, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were similarly upset.

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

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," wrote a different viewer.

But there was no time to dwell on this departure. Before long, they were at the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their partner, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," he said.

And he even 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 trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.