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

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

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

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

Out of nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Before long, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the final players.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that went viral and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

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

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

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

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have appeared to breakfast in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you vote for someone who is so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

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

There was some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

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

However, he got outstyled by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Following this was the competition, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task involved destroying portraits of former contestants. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated a player, while the other just giggled.

And one did stick to his promise. But, managing to stay unnoticed for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

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

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

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

The final four gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," said the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls their former ally as a traitor.

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by a different player, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be in the running for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

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

"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 the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.