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

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

However on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

From nineteen participants, just a handful remained: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he was actually a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented a viewer.

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

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

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, as noted by industry observers.

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

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up why no one had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one vote for someone who is so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

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

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

Thursday evening's episode was extended to 70 minutes on television. There was an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

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

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

"Let's face it, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them destroying 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.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said a player, while the other just giggled.

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

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against that player to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said an observer.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their ally, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be betrayed last minute like that," said the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant refers to their former ally as a traitor.

Finally, only three contestants were still competing: the last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by 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 scene where the other players consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the champion quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," he said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally 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 famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.