Following multiple episodes of tension, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

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

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

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

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been 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 best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," stated another, while a third called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, according to entertainment reporters.

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

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up 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. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

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

"I'd like to do it again... I don't think it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"To be honest, I started the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've murdered national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I thought."

At the same time, a different player commented 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 appeared to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

The winner appeared at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Next up was the competition, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - naturally - 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 multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to their agreement. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor looked like he was in a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," wrote a different viewer.

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

The final four stood over the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally as a traitor.

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

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and here I am the champion," the winner said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter 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 the occasional surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.