Following weeks of suspense, schemes and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors concludes with a thrilling end

Warning: spoilers ahead - This article reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors conclusion

Over the course of the show, viewers witnessed eliminations, betrayals, intense glares, and an unforgettable incident that pierced the overwhelming tension.

Yet on Thursday night, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

Out of nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Traitors and loyal players competing for the winnings.

Soon, the field narrowed to only three contenders: the final players.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, in a surprising result that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"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. "Everything's fine."

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

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third described it as "the television highlight of the year."

The organization he selected, a cancer charity, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

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

But his win still left the nation surprised, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deception felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, fellow players explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in a green cloak and I still wouldn't have thought he was deceiving us. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"Most people didn't target him because how can you eliminate a person so charming?" asked another celebrity.

The winner stated he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his time on the program.

"I'd like to participate once more... I doubt it would work again!"

The final installment was lengthened to 70 minutes on the network. There was a different start than typical episodes, as all the celebs were aware who'd make it at the morning gathering.

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' experience in the game.

As ever, Alan Carr gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've eliminated beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, a different player noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for a national team", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, various contestants appeared to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at breakfast looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

However, he got out-jacketted 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 - of course - The Traitors Express.

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

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

Two traitors did a pinky promise beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," said a player, while their partner simply laughed.

However, 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 last deceiver appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, without direction."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be eliminated. An endearing deceiver," commented a commentator.

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

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

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it mattered the most, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back at the final moment in that manner," said the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to their former ally as a traitor.

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

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the competition. So did a different player, and everything depended on the final participant, 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 predict it will be in the running for outstanding scene at television honors," they said.

Happily, the champion soon recovered from his bout of tears, and was able to enjoy his victory.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, my expressions gave me away and here I am the champion," the winner said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over 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 famous people scheming, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.