Following weeks of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals key moments from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that cut through all tension.

However on Thursday night, the final winner of the inaugural celebrity edition was revealed.

From nineteen participants, only five remained: Traitors and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Soon, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking result that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

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

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

But his win still shocked viewers in shock, according to industry observers.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have appeared to breakfast in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one vote for someone who is so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the program.

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

The final installment was extended to over an hour on television. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

As ever, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started this game as something 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 a better liar and traitor than I thought."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on of the finale, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared at the morning meal looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, later switching into a bejewelled white suit.

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

Next up was the competition, with the remaining contestants boarding a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task saw them destroying images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for one participant who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," stated one, while their partner simply laughed.

However, one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Being alone, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

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

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

But there was no time to dwell on this departure. Before long, the game reached the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership broke down, just when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," said the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

Finally, just three players remained in the game: the last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment where the other players consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it could be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate the moment.

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

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of famous people scheming, scheming and the occasional unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.