Following weeks of suspense, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

However on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors 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.

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, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, revealing to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote another, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive all the prize money, with the final pot reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

But his win still left the nation in shock, according to industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt about as likely as him keeping composure through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up why no one had truly doubted him.

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

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one vote for a person so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

"I want to do it again... I don't think it would be successful again!"

The final episode was lengthened to 70 minutes on television. There was a different start than typical episodes, as every celebrity were aware who would appear at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as we recapped key scenes from every remaining player's experience in the game.

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

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed close allies to save myself, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal resembling a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

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

The challenge saw them ripping up portraits of former contestants. Have sympathy for one participant who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers did a pinky promise in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," said one, while their partner just giggled.

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

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want this contestant to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said a commentator.

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

But there was no time to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that when they message, the betrayed player refers to their former ally as a traitor.

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

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the moment where the other players comforted the champion was "beautiful TV". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

Happily, the winner quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand a winner," the winner said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - 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 the occasional unexpected moments may feel like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.