Following weeks of suspense, plots and backstabbing, Celebrity Traitors has reached a thrilling finale

Warning: spoilers ahead - This piece reveals key moments from Celebrity Traitors conclusion

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

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the first Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Deceivers and faithfuls facing off for the prize.

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

In the end, funny man Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising result 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 consoled him. "It's all right."

Online platforms immediately exploded with this development. "Most awful traitor ever being the most effective player," wrote one user.

"It couldn't have been a better conclusion," stated another, while a third described it as "the TV moment of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount amounting to £87,500.

The comedian's evolution from comic relief to cold-hearted killer was among the most memorable aspects of the series.

But his win still left the nation in shock, as noted by industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, executing a masterclass in deception 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 ever really suspected him.

"He might have come down to the morning meal in a green cloak and I wouldn't have believed he was deceiving us. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"The majority didn't target him because how can you eliminate a person so charming?" questioned a different contestant.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his time on the program.

"I'd like to do it again... I don't think it would be successful again!"

Thursday evening's installment was extended to over an hour on the network. There was an unusual opening than usual, as every celebrity knew who'd make it at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard some very uplifting, and atypical for the show music, as we recapped some moments from every remaining player's experience in the game.

True to form, Alan Carr gave us some of the most memorable lines.

"Let's face it, I started this game as something of a nervous wreck. I've thrown close allies to save myself, I've murdered beloved figures in plain sight. Apparently I'm more deceptive and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "way more stressful than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning of the finale, several players appeared to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, taking over from an earlier departed fashionable contestant.

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

But he was outstyled by another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. Impressive style.

Following this was the competition, with the remaining contestants getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Traitors Express.

This task involved ripping up images of former contestants. Have sympathy for one participant who was hit in the head THREE times by the lid of a substantial container.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," stated one, while the other just giggled.

However, one did stick to his promise. Yet, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver appeared he was in significant distress 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 similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," commented an observer.

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," wrote another user.

But there was little opportunity to dwell on this departure. Soon, the game reached the endgame - which was the moment everyone anticipated.

The last players stood over the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - after a shock vote from their partner, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the eliminated player. Later, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other as a traitor.

Ultimately, only three contestants remained in the game: the last participants.

One player, looking incredibly smug, voted to end the game. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the final participant, who made the identical choice - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where remaining contestants comforted the winner was "compelling television". "I anticipate it will be in the running for memorable moment at television honors," they commented.

Fortunately, the champion quickly regained composure from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate his victory.

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

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his close ally during the initial stages - by reaching over the presenter in the final scene and touching her cheek.

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

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, plotting and the occasional surprising incidents may seem like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually occur. And we will miss it.