Following multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that cut through the overwhelming tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the first Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

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

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he was actually a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," stated a different person, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still left the nation surprised, according to industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants explained why no one had ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

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

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

The final episode was extended to over an hour on the network. There was a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

There was 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 provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started the competition as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the castle, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at breakfast resembling a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, later switching into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. But, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against that player to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," posted a different viewer.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Before long, 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, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players 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 final participant, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where remaining contestants consoled the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be a contender for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the winner quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and now I stand the champion," the winner said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.