Following multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses key moments from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced all suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition was revealed.

From 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking result 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'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

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

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the series.

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal 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 target him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

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

"I'd like to do it again... I don't think it would work a second time!"

The final installment was lengthened to over an hour on the network. There was a different start than usual, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

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

"To be honest, I started this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I thought."

At the same time, a different player noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing 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 a bejewelled white suit.

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

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

The challenge saw them ripping up images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said one, while the other simply laughed.

And one did stick to their agreement. But, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

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

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," commented a commentator.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, just when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their partner, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be a contender for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy his victory.

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

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.