In a stunning television upset, comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner of the first-ever celebrity edition of The Traitors on Thursday night. The 49-year-old managed to deceive his fellow contestants, known as the Faithful, right up until the dramatic final moment, securing the entire £87,000 prize pot for his chosen charity.
The series proved to be the most successful yet for the BBC, drawing in a live audience of 11 million viewers who were treated to a rollercoaster of hilarious and shocking moments, many courtesy of the unlikely champion.
An Unlikely Traitor's Journey
From the very beginning, Alan Carr seemed an improbable choice for a Traitor. In the dramatic first episode, host Claudia Winkleman, 53, selected him for the role, a decision that was met with his characteristic giggling and jokes about a 'sweating problem'. His initial appearance as a Traitor was so comical it left Claudia shaking her head in disbelief.
After donning the iconic cloak for the first time and ascending the tower of Ardross Castle, Alan discovered his fellow conspirators would be singer Cat Burns, 25, and chat show host Jonathan Ross. His very first mission, a murder in plain sight, involved a shock twist: he chose to kill his close friend, Paloma Faith, 44. Pretending to adjust a hair on her face in the castle kitchen, Alan subtly 'poisoned' her, later feigning heartbreak to throw others off his scent.
Masterful Deception and Hilarious Antics
Alan's gameplay was a masterclass in misdirection, punctuated by moments of pure comedy. He left fans in hysterics with a savage dig at Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway, suggesting that if she didn't appear for breakfast, people would just assume she'd 'gone into a broom cupboard'.
Another unforgettable moment came during a prize-building challenge that required crossing a wobbly bridge. Alan's screams of terror ricocheted across the valley as he tentatively made his way across, later exclaiming he felt like 'a winner... and a eunuch' after securing £2,500 for the prize fund.
Perhaps his most cunning move was his willingness to throw fellow Traitor Jonathan Ross under the bus. In a secret kitchen meeting with Cat, Alan admitted he was prepared to vote Jonathan out to protect himself, a plan he executed at the next roundtable, effectively sending the chat show host packing.
The Tense Finale and Emotional Victory
Alan's cover was nearly blown in the tense final episode. With the group whittled down to the final five—Alan, Cat, former rugby ace Joe Marler, 35, actor Nick Mohammed, and historian David Olusoga—the contestants were asked to look each other in the eye and declare 'I am a Faithful'.
When it was Alan's turn, he burst into a fit of nervous giggles, a near-fatal mistake that immediately aroused Joe's suspicion. However, after Cat was sent packing and Joe was banished, Alan found himself in the final with Nick and David.
In the end, the two Faithfuls were completely fooled. After weeks of strategic gameplay, alliances, and betrayals, Alan finally revealed his true identity. 'I am, and always have been, a Traitor,' he confessed, breaking down in tears and apologising for the deception. He was reassured by his fellow players that it was 'just a game' and congratulated on his well-played victory.
Alan later reflected on the immense pressure, telling the cameras, 'I was awful, I had no poker face but here I am. Maybe I do exaggerate a showbiz story now and again. But to just lie to people's faces, it was tough.' Despite his claims of having no poker face, his name will now be etched in the show's history as one of its most surprising and entertaining champions.
