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

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, serious side-eye, and an unforgettable incident that cut through the overwhelming tension.

Yet on the final evening, the final winner of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors emerged triumphant.

Out of 19 contestants, only five were left standing: Traitors and faithfuls competing for the winnings.

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

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the champion, in a surprising result that went viral and made him tearful.

"This has been destroying me, I'm so sorry," he declared, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he was actually one of the deceivers. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media immediately exploded with the news. "The worst deceiver being the most effective player," commented a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," wrote a different person, while a third described it as "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, gets to keep all the prize money, with the total amount reaching eighty-seven thousand five hundred pounds.

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

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

"The idea of Alan, of all people, 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 appeared to the morning meal in traitor attire and I still wouldn't have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing," one participant said.

"The majority didn't vote for him because how does one eliminate a person so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

Carr said he had "thoroughly enjoyed" his experience with the show.

"I want to participate once more... I don't think it would work again!"

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

There was particularly inspiring, and atypical for the show music, as the episode revisited key scenes from each of the finalists' time in the castle.

True to form, the comedian provided unforgettable quotes.

"To be honest, I started the competition as something of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed close allies under the bus, I've eliminated beloved figures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and traitor than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than competing with England", while another said he was "completely amazed" to have made it so far.

Early on in the episode, various contestants seemed to be attempting to become the fashion standout of the competition, replacing an earlier departed style leader.

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

However, he got out-jacketted by a fellow player's burgundy formal wear. What a look.

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

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

Before long, it was time for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact beforehand, pledging to stick together. "We've come a long way, I won't throw him under a bus," said a player, while their partner simply laughed.

And one adhered to their agreement. Yet, managing to stay unnoticed for the majority of the competition, their partner still received the majority elimination votes.

The last deceiver looked like he was in a world of pain to be the final deceiver remaining. "Being alone, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, without direction."

Social media and onlookers were equally disappointed.

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

"Your legacy will remain in Traitors history," posted a different viewer.

However, there remained little opportunity to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the endgame - which was what we were really all here for.

The final four gathered around the fire pit. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, just when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

A player was eliminated in dramatic fashion - following a surprising decision from their ally, who betrayed them.

"This pains me to be stabbed in the back last minute like that," remarked the eliminated player. Subsequently, we learned that when they message, the betrayed player refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players were still competing: the final trio.

One player, looking incredibly smug, chose to conclude the game. So did another, and everything depended on the third, who made the identical choice - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players comforted the champion was "compelling television". "I predict it could be in the running for memorable moment at next year's awards," they said.

Happily, 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, I had no poker face and here I am the champion," he said.

He also made light of the memorable elimination - his best friend in an early episode - by leaning toward the host in the concluding moments and making contact.

"There's something on your face," he said, with his trademark giggle.

The last few weeks of celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes surprising incidents may feel like a bizarre fantasy. Yet it actually all happen. And we will miss it.