Comedian Alan Carr was crowned the winner of the first celebrity edition of the hit reality show The Celebrity Traitors, and in doing so, delivered an emotional confession: the lie he sustained during the game had “torn him apart.”

In the dramatic finale, Carr’s revelation that he was one of the Traitors left fellow contestants David Olusoga and Nick Mohammed visibly stunned. When he declared, “I am and have always been a traitor,” Nick responded in shock: “Oh f**k,” and sank to the floor in disbelief. 

Carr later admitted that despite the elation of winning, he was unable to immediately celebrate. Overcome with emotion, he burst into tears — a moment that underscored the psychological toll the deception had taken. “It’s been tearing me apart. I am so sorry,” he said, as fellow finalists rushed to console him. David told him he “had been amazing,” while Nick reassured: “Don’t be stupid, think about the charity.” 

The reveal & mechanics

The show’s format placed Carr against a group of celebrities—some designated “Traitors”, others “Faithfuls.” According to reports, the prize pot reached £87,500, which Carr will donate to his chosen charity, Neuroblastoma UK. 
He explained that the combination of deceit, lying, and “murdering” (in the game’s metaphorical sense) participants such as Paloma Faith and Celia Imrie had taken its toll on him. “The charity is so close to my heart that it all became a bit too much,” he told The Independent. 

Strategic mastery — and missteps by the Faithfuls

Experts reviewing the series noted that Carr’s win was as much a testament to his gameplay as it was to the ineptitude of the Faithful contestants. As The Guardian observed, “Carr managed to avoid detection almost completely,” benefiting from the fact that the Faithfuls never caught a Traitor for several rounds. 
In particular, the final round left the Faithfuls scrambling: after the banishment of Cat Burns, the remaining three (Carr, David Olusoga and Nick Mohammed) voted to end the game, at which point Carr revealed his status and claimed the prize pot. 

Emotional cost & public reaction

While the show delivered high drama and spectacle, Carr’s emotional reaction highlighted the personal cost of playing “villain” in front of millions. In his post-game reflection he admitted the guilt weighed heavily: “I think all the deceit, the lying and murdering … had all taken its toll.” 
He acknowledged that the prize money would mean a lot to Neuroblastoma UK, a childhood cancer charity often under-recognised. 

What this means moving forward

Carr’s victory on the show appears to have elevated his profile significantly. Reports indicate he is now being considered for major network roles, including the possibility of replacing long-standing hosts on other flagship shows. 
For the franchise itself, this edition of The Celebrity Traitors has already been declared a ratings success for the broadcaster, signalling that celebrity-editions of high-stakes social-deduction formats may have staying power.