After weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling finale

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

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

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

From nineteen participants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the final players.

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

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while a third described it as "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to 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 thought of him, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players explained why no one had truly doubted him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. 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.

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

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would be successful again!"

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

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"Let's face it, I began this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed 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, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful 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, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

Following this was the challenge, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them destroying portraits of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

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

However, one adhered to their agreement. But, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," posted a different viewer.

But there was little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally as a traitor.

Finally, just three players remained in the game: 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 - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure 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," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.