Following multiple episodes of tension, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through all tension.

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

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

Before long, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, 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."

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

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while someone else called it "the TV moment of the year."

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

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still shocked viewers in shock, as noted by 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 his comedy routines."

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

"He might have come down to the morning meal 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 vote for him because how can you eliminate a person so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I want to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. It had a different start than usual, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

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

As ever, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started the competition as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends to save myself, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion 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 in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

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

However, he got outstyled by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them ripping up 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 substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," stated a player, while the other simply laughed.

And one did stick to his promise. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

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

But there was little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, they were at the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, just when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," said the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to their former ally as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants were still competing: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Happily, the winner quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

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

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - 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 last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.