After weeks of tension, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the winnings.

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

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

"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," commented a viewer.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while a third called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the series.

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained why no one had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

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

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the program.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. There was a different start than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

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

True to form, the comedian provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

The challenge involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said one, while the other just giggled.

However, one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared he was in significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, 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 eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on this departure. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. So did another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and here I am a winner," he said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the host 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, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.