Following weeks of suspense, schemes and sabotage, Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting end

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

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

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

Out of nineteen participants, only five were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls competing for the prize.

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

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, admitting to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

"You played amazingly," they consoled him. "Everything's fine."

Online platforms immediately exploded with the news. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote a viewer.

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

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep the entire winnings, with the total amount amounting to eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the series.

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

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing an expert performance in deceit felt just as probable as him maintaining composure through his comedy routines."

During follow-up conversations, fellow players summed up the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"Alan could have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," a player said.

"Most people didn't target him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" asked a different contestant.

The winner stated he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I doubt it would work again!"

The final episode was extended to 70 minutes on the network. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show soundtrack, as the episode revisited some moments from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

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

"To be honest, I started the competition a bit of an anxious mess. I've thrown some really good friends under the bus, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

At the same time, a different player commented that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have made it so far.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the fashion standout of the castle, taking over from an earlier departed style leader.

Carr emerged at the morning meal looking like a 1950s US chat show host in patterned burgundy attire, before changing into an embellished light-colored outfit.

But he was out-jacketted by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. Impressive style.

Next up was the competition, with the final players boarding a locomotive called - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up images of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who was hit in the head THREE times by the cover of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, it was time for the elimination discussion.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't betray him," stated one, while the other simply laughed.

And one did stick to their agreement. But, having slipped under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were equally disappointed.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. An endearing deceiver," said an observer.

"You will forever be remembered in the show's legacy," wrote 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 stood over the fire pit. And the alliance broke down, just when it was most crucial, in a truly WTF moment.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back at the final moment like that," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the eliminated contestant calls the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the final trio.

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the game. So did another, and everything depended on the third, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver emerged victorious.

According to commentators, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it will 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 the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," he said.

And he even joked about the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the presenter in the final scene 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 sometimes unexpected moments may feel like one big crazy jumbled dream. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.