Following weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming tension.

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

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

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

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he was actually a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third described it as "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

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

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him keeping composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

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

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would work a second time!"

The final installment was extended to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than usual, as every celebrity were aware who would appear at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr provided 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 murdered beloved figures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on of the finale, several players seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

However, one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said a commentator.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," wrote another user.

But there was little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"This pains me to be betrayed last minute in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, only three contestants were still competing: the final trio.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

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

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," he said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.