After weeks of tension, schemes and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article reveals details from 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 Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

Soon, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the champion, in a shocking result that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually a traitor. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Social media immediately exploded with the news. "The worst deceiver 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 TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers in shock, as noted by industry observers.

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

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants 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 deceiving us. His humor distracted me," a player said.

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

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

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

The final installment was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, the comedian gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and traitor than I thought."

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

Early on of the finale, various contestants seemed to be attempting 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 patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

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

Next up was the challenge, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge involved destroying images of former contestants. Have sympathy for one participant who managed to get hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors made a pact in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said a player, while their partner simply laughed.

And one did stick to his promise. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

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

"Your legacy will remain in the show's legacy," posted a different viewer.

But there was no time to focus on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four gathered around the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"This pains me to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player calls the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, only three contestants were still competing: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by another, and it all came down to the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

For observers, the moment where the other players comforted the winner was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am the champion," he said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward 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 celebrity gossiping, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did occur. It will be remembered fondly.