After weeks of suspense, plots and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This article reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through the overwhelming suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Traitors and loyal players competing for the prize.

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

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

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

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while someone else described it as "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the total amount reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

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

"The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off an expert performance in deceit felt about as likely as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

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

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would be successful a second time!"

The final episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"Let's face it, I began this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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

However, he got out-jacketted by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

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

The challenge saw them destroying portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," said one, while their partner just giggled.

However, one adhered to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, the other still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

However, there remained no time to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the final trio.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - which meant that the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where remaining contestants consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

Fortunately, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and here I am the champion," he said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the host in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.