After weeks of tension, plots and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece reveals details from Celebrity Traitors finale

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced all tension.

However on Thursday night, the final winner of the first Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the prize.

Soon, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a surprising outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

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

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

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

However, his victory still shocked viewers in shock, according to industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

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

"Alan could have appeared to breakfast in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

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

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

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

The final episode was extended to 70 minutes on the network. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"Let's face it, I began this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've eliminated national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I thought."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

Early on of the finale, several players seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed 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 a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't betray him," said a player, while their partner just giggled.

However, one did stick to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I hoped against this contestant to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," posted another user.

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

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

A player was painfully banished - 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 eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player refers to their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be a contender for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

And he even made light of that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually occur. It will be remembered fondly.