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

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced all suspense.

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

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the winnings.

Before long, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while someone else called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, executing an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in a green cloak 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 eliminate a person so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

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

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped key scenes from every remaining player's experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. Apparently I'm a better liar and player than I thought."

At the same time, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

Early on of the finale, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

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

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

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

This task saw them ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said a player, while their partner just giggled.

And one adhered to their agreement. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

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

But there was little opportunity to focus on this departure. Before long, the game reached the endgame - which was what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to their former ally by a betrayer's name.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. So did another, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

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

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy his victory.

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

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - 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 recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.