After weeks of tension, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all tension.

Yet on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

From nineteen participants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls competing for the prize.

Soon, the field narrowed to just three: the final players.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising outcome that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with this development. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," wrote a viewer.

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

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers in shock, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how can you vote for someone who is so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would work again!"

The final episode was lengthened to over an hour on television. There was a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, the comedian gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"To be honest, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants appeared to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal resembling a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

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

This task involved destroying images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," stated one, while the other just giggled.

However, one did stick to their agreement. But, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

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

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," said the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant 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 competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away 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 touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.