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

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

Throughout the season, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition was revealed.

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

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the remaining contestants.

In the end, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

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

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while someone else called it "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, as noted by industry observers.

"The thought of him, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants summed up why no one had truly doubted him.

"He might have appeared to the morning meal in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how can you eliminate a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the show.

"I want to do it again... I doubt it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's episode was lengthened to over an hour on television. There was an unusual opening than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

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

True to form, the comedian gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and player than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant 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 of the finale, several players appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the castle, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Next up was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for one participant who was hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't betray him," stated a player, while the other just giggled.

And one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

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

However, there remained no time to focus on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the final stage - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their partner, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

For observers, the scene where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Happily, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," he said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.