Following weeks of tension, schemes and sabotage, The Celebrity Traitors has reached a nail-biting finale

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw murders, betrayals, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

Yet on Thursday night, the ultimate victor of the inaugural Celebrity Traitors was revealed.

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

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

In the end, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a surprising outcome that broke the internet and made him tearful.

"It's been tearing me apart, I'm so sorry," he exclaimed, revealing to the remaining faithfuls that he'd always been a traitor. "I'm an awful human being."

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

Social media quickly erupted with this development. "The worst deceiver being the best traitor ever," wrote a viewer.

"There could not have been a better conclusion," stated another, while someone else called it "the television highlight of the year."

His chosen charity, a cancer charity, will receive 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 among the most memorable aspects of the series.

But his win still left the nation surprised, according to industry observers.

"The idea of Alan, among everyone, pulling off a masterclass in deceit felt about as likely as him keeping composure through his comedy routines."

On subsequent discussions, the other contestants explained the reasons nobody had truly doubted him.

"He might have come down to breakfast in traitor attire and I wouldn't have believed he was a traitor. His humor distracted me," one participant said.

"Most people didn't vote for him because how does one vote for someone who is so loveable?" questioned another celebrity.

The winner stated 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 episode was lengthened to over an hour on the network. There was a different start than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the breakfast table.

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

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

"To be honest, I began this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I've betrayed some really good friends to save myself, I've murdered national treasures openly. Apparently I'm more deceptive and player than I believed."

Meanwhile, another contestant noted that being in the final was "significantly more pressure than competing with a national team", while someone else said he was "totally surprised" to have lasted this long.

In the beginning in the episode, several players seemed to be making a bid to become the new style icon of the competition, taking over from the previously eliminated 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.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - of course - The Traitors Express.

This task saw them destroying images of former contestants. Have sympathy for a player who was hit on the head THREE times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the elimination discussion.

Two traitors did a pinky promise in advance, vowing to stick together. "We've progressed significantly, I won't throw him under a bus," said a player, while their partner simply laughed.

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

The remaining traitor looked like to be experiencing significant distress to be the final deceiver remaining. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm unpredictable, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I hoped against this contestant to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," said a commentator.

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

However, there remained no time to dwell on their elimination. Before long, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The final four stood over the ceremonial fire. And the alliance collapsed, precisely when it mattered the most, in a truly WTF moment.

One contestant was painfully banished - following a surprising decision from their ally, who turned against them.

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

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

One player, appearing quite pleased, chose to conclude the competition. So did a different player, and it all came down to the final participant, who did the same - resulting in the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the scene where the other players comforted the winner was "beautiful TV". "I predict it could be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

Happily, the champion soon recovered from his emotional outburst, and could finally appreciate his victory.

"What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner," the winner said.

And he even made light of the memorable elimination - his close ally in an early episode - by leaning toward the host 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 celebrity gossiping, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like one big crazy jumbled dream. But it really did all happen. It will be remembered fondly.