After weeks of tension, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

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

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

From nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Traitors and loyal players competing for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, 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."

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still left the nation surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

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

"He might have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how can you vote for a person so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the show.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work a second time!"

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

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

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

"Let's face it, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players appeared to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared at the morning meal resembling a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

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

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them ripping up images of former contestants. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," stated one, while their partner just giggled.

However, one did stick to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar 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 final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," said an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," posted another user.

However, there remained no time to focus on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players stood over the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, 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 emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be a contender for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the winner quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and here I am a winner," the winner said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.