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

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals key moments from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed murders, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through all tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of nineteen participants, just a handful were left standing: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the winnings.

Before long, the competition tightened to only three contenders: the final players.

In the end, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising result that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media immediately exploded with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote a different person, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount reaching £87,500.

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

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him maintaining a straight face through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants summed up why no one had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you vote for a person so charming?" asked a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

"I want to participate once more... I don't think it would be successful a second time!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to 70 minutes on the network. It had an unusual opening than typical episodes, as every celebrity were aware who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

As ever, Alan Carr provided some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I began this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

Early on of the finale, several players seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

The winner appeared at the morning meal resembling a 1950s US chat show host in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Following this was the challenge, with the remaining contestants boarding a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge involved destroying portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Before long, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

Two traitors made a pact beforehand, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said a player, while the other simply laughed.

However, one adhered to their agreement. But, managing to stay unnoticed for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

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

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. 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 dwell on their elimination. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

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

A player was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who betrayed them.

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Later, we learned that when they message, the eliminated contestant calls the other as a traitor.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did a different player, and it all came down to the third, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver emerged victorious.

For observers, the scene where the other players consoled the champion was "compelling television". "I anticipate it could be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

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

"Such an emotional journey. I thought I was terrible at deception, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," the winner said.

He also joked about that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and the occasional unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.