After weeks of tension, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that cut through the overwhelming tension.

However on the final evening, the ultimate victor of the first celebrity edition emerged triumphant.

From 19 contestants, just a handful were left standing: Traitors and loyal players competing for the prize.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a shocking outcome that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media quickly erupted with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever," commented one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," stated a different person, while someone else described it as "the TV moment 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.

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

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

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained why no one had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you vote for someone who is so loveable?" questioned a different contestant.

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

"I'd like to do it again... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

The final episode was extended to over an hour on television. It had an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque music, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's time in the castle.

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

"To be honest, I began the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while another said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

Early on of the finale, several players appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was out-jacketted by another contestant's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up images of former contestants. Spare a thought for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, pledging to support each other. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said a player, while the other just giggled.

However, one adhered to their agreement. But, having slipped unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in a world of pain to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Online platforms and onlookers were similarly upset.

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

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," posted a different viewer.

But there was no time to dwell on their elimination. Soon, they were at the endgame - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, 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 stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants were still competing: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the game. So did another, and it all came down to the third, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where remaining contestants 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 soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," the winner said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.