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

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

Over the course of the show, audiences saw eliminations, double-crosses, intense glares, and a memorable moment that pierced the overwhelming suspense.

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

From 19 contestants, only five remained: Traitors and loyal players facing off for the prize.

Soon, the competition tightened to just three: the remaining contestants.

Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner, in a shocking outcome that broke the internet and left him emotional.

"It's been tearing me apart, my apologies," he declared, revealing to the other players that he'd always been one of the deceivers. "I feel terrible about this."

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

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

"It couldn't have been a more iconic ending," wrote another, while someone else described it as "the TV moment of the year."

The organization he selected, Neuroblastoma UK, gets to keep all the prize money, with the final pot amounting to £87,500.

Alan Carr's transformation from giggle liability to strategic player was one of the standout highlights of the season.

But his win still shocked viewers surprised, according to industry observers.

"The thought of him, of all people, executing an expert performance in deceit felt just as probable as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines."

During follow-up conversations, the other contestants summed up why no one 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 can you vote for someone who is so charming?" asked a different contestant.

Carr said he had "absolutely loved" his experience with the show.

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

The final installment was lengthened to over an hour on television. It had an unusual opening than usual, as all the celebs knew who would appear at the morning gathering.

Viewers heard particularly inspiring, and very un-Traitors-esque soundtrack, as the episode revisited key scenes from every remaining player's 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 an anxious mess. I've thrown close allies under the bus, I've eliminated national treasures openly. I'm clearly a better liar and player than I believed."

At the same time, another contestant commented that reaching the conclusion was "significantly more pressure than playing for England", while someone else said he was "completely amazed" to have lasted this long.

Early on in the episode, several players seemed to be attempting to become the new style icon of the competition, replacing the previously eliminated fashionable contestant.

Carr emerged at the morning meal 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 another contestant's maroon velvet tuxedo. What a look.

Next up was the challenge, with the final players getting on board a locomotive called - naturally - The Deceivers' Railway.

This task involved destroying images of former contestants. Spare a thought for one participant who managed to get hit in the head multiple times by the lid of a heavy wooden box.

Soon after, the moment arrived for the roundtable.

The deceivers made a pact in advance, vowing to support each other. "We've progressed significantly, I'm not going to betray him," said a player, while the other just giggled.

However, one adhered to his promise. But, managing to stay under the radar for the majority of the competition, their partner still got the most votes.

The remaining traitor appeared to be experiencing significant distress to be the last traitor standing. "Now I'm on my own, I'm frightened," he said. "I'm a loose cannon, a rudderless ship."

Social media and viewers were similarly upset.

"I did NOT want that player to be banished. A truly loveable traitor," said an observer.

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

But there was little opportunity to focus on their elimination. Soon, the game reached the endgame - this being what we were really all here for.

The last players gathered around the ceremonial fire. Meanwhile, the partnership collapsed, precisely when it was most crucial, in an absolutely shocking development.

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

"It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute in that manner," remarked the ousted contestant. Subsequently, it was revealed that if they ever communicate, the betrayed player refers to the other by a betrayer's name.

Ultimately, just three players remained in the game: the last participants.

A contestant, appearing quite pleased, voted to end the competition. The same decision was made by another, and everything depended on the final participant, who did the same - which meant that the deceiver was the winner.

According to commentators, the moment where remaining contestants consoled the winner was "compelling television". "I predict it will be a contender for outstanding scene at next year's awards," they commented.

Happily, the champion quickly regained composure from his bout of tears, and could finally appreciate the moment.

"Such an emotional journey. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and now I stand the champion," the winner said.

And he even joked about that infamous murder - his best friend in an early episode - by reaching over the presenter in the concluding moments and making contact.

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

The recent episodes of famous people scheming, scheming and sometimes unexpected moments may seem like a bizarre fantasy. But it really did occur. And we will miss it.