Following weeks of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting end

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced all suspense.

However on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players competing for the winnings.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, revealing to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

"You did brilliantly," they comforted him. "Everything's fine."

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," stated another, while someone else described it as "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still left the nation surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, of all people, executing a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

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

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

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

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

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

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

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

"Let's face it, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered national treasures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

At the same time, a different player noted that being in the final was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like 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. What a look.

Next up was the competition, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them ripping up images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who was hit in the head multiple times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while the other simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

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

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the endgame - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players stood over the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their partner, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. So did a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - resulting in the traitor emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Fortunately, the winner quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

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

And he even made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and touching her cheek.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. It will be remembered fondly.