After multiple episodes of suspense, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors concludes with a nail-biting finale

Spoiler alert - This piece discloses key moments from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced all tension.

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

Out of 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Deceivers and loyal players facing off for the prize.

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

Ultimately, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that went viral and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, admitting to the other players that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," 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."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was one of the standout highlights of the season.

However, his victory still left the nation in shock, according to entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, among everyone, pulling off an expert performance in deception felt just as probable as him keeping composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had ever really suspected him.

"Alan could have appeared to the morning meal in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one vote for someone who is so loveable?" asked another celebrity.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would be successful a second time!"

The final episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. It had an unusual opening than typical episodes, as every celebrity knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

There was some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as we recapped key scenes from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

True to form, the comedian gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started this game a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've murdered national treasures openly. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, various contestants appeared to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

The winner appeared at breakfast resembling a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

However, he got outstyled by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a train named - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

The challenge saw them ripping up images of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a substantial container.

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," said one, while their partner just giggled.

However, one did stick to their agreement. Yet, having slipped under the radar for most of the game, the other still got the most votes.

The last deceiver appeared 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 a loose cannon, without direction."

Online platforms and viewers were equally disappointed.

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

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," wrote another user.

However, there remained little opportunity to focus on this departure. Before long, they were at the endgame - this being the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players gathered around the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

One contestant was painfully banished - after a shock vote from their ally, who turned against them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," said the ousted contestant. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls the other as a traitor.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the competition. The same decision was made by a different player, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - which meant that the traitor was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be a contender for outstanding scene at television honors," they commented.

Fortunately, the winner soon recovered from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"What a rollercoaster. I thought I was terrible at deception, my expressions gave me away and now I stand a winner," the winner said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

"You've got something on your face," he said, with his characteristic laugh.

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. And we will miss it.