Spoiler warning: This article reveals details from The Celebrity Traitors finale
The inaugural season of Celebrity Traitors delivered its share of drama, featuring calculated eliminations, strategic betrayals, and, memorably, a disruptive flatulence incident.
On Thursday night, the climactic episode revealed the ultimate victor of the celebrity edition.
From an initial cast of 19 contestants, the finale featured just five remaining players: Traitors Cat Burns and Alan Carr, and Faithfuls Joe Marler, Nick Mohammed, and David Olusoga.
The final reckoning narrowed the field to Carr, Mohammed, and Olusoga.
Ultimately, comedian Alan Carr emerged as the winner, a result that ignited social media and prompted an emotional reaction from the victor himself.
“It’s been tearing me apart, I’m so sorry,” Carr exclaimed, confessing his long-held status as a Traitor to the remaining Faithfuls. “I’m an awful human being.”
His fellow contestants offered reassurance, stating, “You did brilliantly. It’s all right.”
The revelation sparked a frenzy on social media. “Most awful traitor ever being the best traitor ever,” one X user commented.
Another user declared, “There could not have been a more iconic ending,” while a third hailed it as “the TV moment of the year.”
Carr’s chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK, is set to receive the entire prize fund, totaling £87,500.
“Alan, what a moment. We can’t tell you how grateful we are,” the charity acknowledged in a social media post.
The finale attracted an average viewership of 11.1 million, marking the largest live audience for a single television program this year.
According to the BBC, this represents the highest overnight audience since the Gavin and Stacey Christmas special, which garnered 12.3 million viewers last year.
In July, England’s victory in the Euro 2025 final averaged 12 million viewers across BBC One and ITV.
Carr’s unlikely transformation from a seemingly harmless personality into a cunning strategist proved to be a defining aspect of the series.
Entertainment reporter Indigo Stafford noted that his victory was a stunning surprise.
“The idea of Alan, of all people, pulling off a masterclass in deception felt about as likely as him keeping a straight face through one of his own punchlines.”
During the Uncloaked podcast, fellow contestants reflected on why Carr was consistently underestimated.
“Alan could have come down to breakfast in a green cloak and I still wouldn’t have thought he was a traitor. I was too busy laughing,” Olusoga said.
Paloma Faith added, “Most people didn’t vote for [Carr] because, how can you vote for someone who is so loveable?”
Carr himself expressed his enjoyment of the show, saying he had “absolutely loved” his time.
“I want to do it again… I don’t think it would work a second time!”
The final episode was extended to 70 minutes on BBC One, deviating from the usual format by revealing all remaining players at the breakfast table.
The episode featured uplifting music and flashbacks from each finalist’s journey.
Carr delivered some of the series’ most memorable lines.
“Let’s face it, I started this game a bit of a nervous wreck. I’ve thrown some really good friends under the bus, I’ve murdered national treasures in plain sight. I’m clearly a better liar and traitor than I thought I was.”
Meanwhile, ex-rugby player Marler noted that being in the final was “way more stressful than playing for England”, while Olusoga said he was “completely amazed” to have made it so far.
The episode also saw a competition among contestants to become the castle’s new style icon, succeeding the ousted Jonathan Ross.
Carr initially appeared in a checked maroon suit reminiscent of a 1950s chat show host, later changing into a bejeweled white ensemble.
However, Mohammed ultimately outshone the competition with his maroon velvet tuxedo.
The challenge involved the remaining contestants boarding the “Traitors Express” train.
During the challenge, contestants ripped up portraits of previously eliminated players, and Marler was comically struck on the head by a wooden box lid three times.
The roundtable segment then commenced.
Burns and Carr made a pinky promise to remain loyal to each other. “We’ve come a long way, I’m not going to throw him under a bus,” said Burns, while Carr just giggled.
Carr kept his promise, but Burns was ultimately voted out due to evading suspicion for most of the game.
Carr appeared distraught at being the last Traitor remaining. “Now I’m on my own, I feel terrified,” he said. “I’m a loose cannon, a rudderless ship.”
The decision to banish Burns drew disappointment from social media.
“Caaaattt! I did NOT want Cat to be banished. A truly loveable traitor,” commented culture journalist Natalie Jamieson.
“Cat Burns, you will forever be remembered in Traitors history,” wrote one X user.
The endgame arrived, marking the moment viewers had been eagerly anticipating.
The final four gathered at the fire pit, where the alliance between Nick and Joe dissolved in a shocking turn of events.
Marler was eliminated after a surprise vote from Mohammed, who turned against his ally.
“It hurts to be stabbed in the back last minute like that,” said Marler.
The game concluded with Carr, Olusoga, and Mohammed as the final three players.
Carr, exuding confidence, voted to end the game. Olusoga concurred, leaving the decision to Mohammed, who followed suit, securing Carr’s victory as the remaining Traitor.
Jamieson described the moment when Olusoga and Mohammed comforted Carr as “beautiful TV,” predicting a nomination for a memorable moment award at the next Bafta TV Awards.
Carr quickly recovered from his emotional display and celebrated his victory.
“What a rollercoaster. I was awful at lying, I had no poker face and here I am a winner,” Carr said.
He even alluded to the infamous murder of his close friend Paloma Faith, reaching out to touch host Claudia Winkleman’s cheek and saying, “You’ve got something on your face Claudia,” with his trademark giggle.
The past weeks of celebrity intrigue, scheming, and occasional flatulence may seem surreal, but they were very much a reality, and the show will be missed.
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