Following weeks of tension, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece reveals key moments from Celebrity Traitors finale

Throughout the season, audiences saw murders, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

From 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the winnings.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the final players.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

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

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

His chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

Alan Carr's transformation from comic relief to strategic player was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

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 composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up why no one had ever really suspected him.

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

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

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

"I'd like to participate once more... I don't think it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's installment was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had a different start than usual, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

There was some very uplifting, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

True to form, the comedian provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began this game as something of an anxious mess. I've betrayed 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 noted 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.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a vintage television personality in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge involved destroying images of eliminated players. Spare a thought for a player who managed to get hit on the head multiple times by the cover of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to betray him," said one, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to his promise. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

The last deceiver appeared he was in significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and onlookers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against that player to be banished. An endearing deceiver," commented an observer.

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

However, there remained no time to dwell on this departure. Before long, they were at the final stage - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four stood over the fire pit. And the alliance collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

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

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

A contestant, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did a different player, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be a contender for memorable moment at television honors," they said.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

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

He also joked about that infamous murder - his close ally in an early episode - by reaching over the host in the final scene and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.