After weeks of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all tension.

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

Out of nineteen participants, only five remained: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

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

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

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while a third described it as "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

However, his victory still shocked viewers surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

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

"I want to do it again... I doubt it would work a second time!"

The final installment was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's experience in the game.

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

"To be honest, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

At the same time, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

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

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge involved ripping up images of former contestants. Spare a thought for a player who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while their partner just giggled.

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

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," said a commentator.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," posted another user.

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

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

One contestant was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their partner, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the winner quickly regained composure 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 now I stand a winner," he said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the host in the final scene and touching her cheek.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.