After weeks of suspense, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

From 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Soon, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they consoled him. "Everything's fine."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

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

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, according to industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could 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," one participant said.

"The majority didn't target him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" questioned 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 work again!"

The final episode was extended to 70 minutes on television. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

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 outstyled by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

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

This task involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said a player, while their partner just giggled.

And one did stick to his promise. But, having slipped unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said an observer.

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

However, there remained no time to focus on this departure. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player 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. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Happily, the champion 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 a winner," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.