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

Spoiler alert - This piece reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors finale

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, betrayals, serious side-eye, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

However on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural celebrity edition was revealed.

From 19 contestants, just a handful remained: Traitors and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

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 broke the internet and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

"You played amazingly," they comforted him. "It's all right."

Online platforms quickly erupted with the news. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," stated a different person, while a third called it "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive the entire winnings, with the total amount reaching £87,500.

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, as noted by entertainment reporters.

"The thought of him, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping composure through one of his own punchlines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants explained why no one 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. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate someone who is so charming?" asked another celebrity.

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

"I want to do it again... I doubt it would work a second time!"

The final episode was extended to over an hour on the network. There was an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs knew who'd make it at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from every remaining player's time in the castle.

True to form, the comedian gave us unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I began the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've betrayed some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered national treasures in plain sight. Apparently I'm a better liar and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning in the episode, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a vintage television personality in a checked maroon suit, before changing into a bejewelled white suit.

But he was outstyled by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

Following this was the competition, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved ripping up portraits of eliminated players. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've come a long way, I'm not going to throw him under a bus," said a player, while the other simply laughed.

And one did stick to their agreement. But, managing to stay under the radar for most of the game, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I feel terrified," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

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

"You will forever be remembered in Traitors history," wrote a different viewer.

But there was no time to focus on their elimination. Soon, they were at the final stage - which was what we were really all here for.

The last players stood over the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be betrayed at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to 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 game. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

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

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and was able to enjoy the moment.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," the winner said.

He also made light of that infamous murder - his best friend during the initial stages - by reaching over the host in the final scene and touching her cheek.

"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 seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually all happen. It will be remembered fondly.