Following weeks of suspense, plots and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This article discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through all suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

Before long, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, my apologies," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"There could not have been a more iconic ending," stated another, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

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

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the season.

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

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing an expert performance 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 summed up why no one had ever really suspected him.

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

"The majority didn't vote for him because how can you vote for someone who is so charming?" asked another celebrity.

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

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

The final episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had 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 soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

True to form, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures openly. Apparently I'm a better liar and traitor than I thought."

At the same time, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

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

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

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

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a train named - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for one participant 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.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," stated a player, while their partner simply laughed.

However, one did stick to their agreement. 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 unpredictable, without direction."

Online platforms and onlookers were equally disappointed.

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

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

However, there remained no time to focus on this departure. Before long, the game reached the endgame - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their partner, who turned against them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player calls their former ally by a betrayer's name.

Finally, only three contestants remained in the game: the last participants.

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the scene where the other players comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it could be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

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

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

He also joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the host 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 famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.