When Alan Carr agreed to join Celebrity Traitors, he was merely looking for a light-hearted experience. However, last night, the comedian emerged victorious, surpassing beloved former England rugby player Joe Marler and fellow Traitor, Cat Burns.

According to a friend, the former Chatty Man host initially saw his participation as a pastime, thinking that spending time in a castle would be entertaining. Carr anticipated being quickly outsmarted by his celebrity peers, expecting an early exit from the competition.

Before discovering his triumph, which included a £100,000 prize for his selected charity, Carr reflected on his unexpected success in the show: “I’m clearly a better liar and a better Traitor than I thought I was.”

Unfortunately, for some fans, the outcome was prematurely revealed when a Canadian streaming service accidentally posted the final episode early yesterday morning, only to take it down 90 minutes later. A BBC spokesperson urged those who had seen the episode to refrain from sharing their knowledge.

An investigation is anticipated to determine how such an error occurred. Carr’s win concluded weeks of suspense on the BBC One program, which captivated 14 million viewers eager to see the celebrity contenders face off.

A thorough investigation is expected to take place to establish how such a lapse could have occurred. Carr’s victory came after weeks of the BBC One programme leaving its 14 million viewers on tenterhooks as the celebrity cast went head-to-head.

The end result has been shrouded in secrecy since the series, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, was filmed at Ardross Castle in the Scottish Highlands over the summer.

Carr got off to what viewers describe as a ‘terrible and dubious beginning’ as a Traitor. It wasn’t clear that he was able to keep a secret, with his fellow Traitor Jonathan Ross worrying that he might give himself away.

Alan Carr was revealed tonight as the first winner of The Celebrity Traitors in a dramatic final episode

The comedian was shocked after deceiving his fellow players to win in a dramatic finale

Alan Carr thought he would get ‘completely smashed’ by his fellow celebrities on the hit TV show

The comedian became an instant fan-favourite with his quick one-liners and quips

This was the moment Alan Carr revealed to his fellow players that he was The Traitors

You can hardly blame Ross; even Carr’s friends blabbed to me a week ago that he had won.

One said: ‘Nobody thought Alan could be a Traitor: he was this incredibly hilarious and gregarious guy. He didn’t have any side to him whatsoever. He was so funny all the way through.

‘Alan flew under the radar. He wasn’t the first to put up a name [to accuse someone of being a Traitor, which could see them kicked off the show], but once the die had been cast, he would join in.’

During the series he betrayed his friend Paloma Faith, targeting the person he was closest to and ‘murdering’ her in plain sight.

Ms Faith, being a good pal of his outside of the castle, was stunned at his lack of loyalty.

It must have been addictive for Carr, who later became ‘most enthusiastic when it came to the murders’, according to one of his friends.

‘He found his groove,’ they said. ‘That ruthless, competitive streak came out.’

The final episode began with each of the finalists reflecting on their performance on the show.

Alan was selected as one of three traitors alongside singer Cat Burns and presenter Jonathan Ross

The former Chatty Man host simply believed taking part would be ‘something to pass the time’

Carr’s victory came after weeks of the BBC One programme leaving its 14 million viewers on tenterhooks as the celebrity cast went head-to-head

Alan made it all the way to the final alongside his fellow Traitor Cat Burns, who fell at the final roundtable

Carr said: ‘I started this game as a bit of nervous wreck. I’ve thrown some really good friends under the bus, I’ve murdered national treasures in plain slight. I’m clearly a better liar and a better Traitor than I thought I was.’

Meanwhile, Marler commented: ‘Being in the Traitors final is way more stressful than playing for England.’

Carr was last night celebrating his win, with close friends Amanda Holden and singer Adele both said to be ‘cock-a-hoop’ that he had won. Carr was so sure he would lose he told his friends and family that he would ‘call them in a couple of days’ before he set off for Scotland.

After entering the castle in June, Alan found himself up against the likes of presenter Kate Garraway, singer Charlotte Church and historian David Olusoga. ‘You couldn’t help but love him,’ says one contestant. ‘But nobody thought he would get to the final.’

He joined four other finalists: Marler, Ms Burns, actor Nick Mohammed and Olusoga.

Carr, known for his high-pitched laugh and buck teeth, found fame in 2006 co-hosting the Channel 4 comedy variety show The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins.

He soon became a household name, appearing on comedy panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown. In 2019, he became a judge on the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. He also hosted the Radio 2 Saturday night show Going Out with Alan Carr between 2009 and 2012.

While he did not grow up in the showbusiness world, Carr did come from a well-known football family.

Celebrations: Alan and Claudia share a glass of champagne after he was announced as the winner

Rugby star Joe Marler was voted out of the show in the dramatic climax of the BBC series

Shocked: The moment Nick found out that Alan was a Traitor in the show’s final round 

Carr pictured with his fellow finalists David Olusoga, Cat Burns, Nick Mohammed and Joe Marler

He is the son of manager Graham Carr, who played for Northampton Town in the 1960s and later became the club’s head coach.

For Carr, last night’s sensational win will make up for being snubbed for a potential role as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023. He was left furious after being pipped at the post by former Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli.

So what’s next for Carr, the first winner of Celebrity Traitors?

A source on the show tells me that ‘people just love Alan’. The BBC believes that viewers ‘loved him and [think] he has been the star of the Traitors,’ says one insider.

He is now among the contenders to become the next host of Strictly Come Dancing after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly quit last month.

‘He has got to be up there with the BBC to get a huge new role,’ says my source. ‘Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Strictly.’

There is even talk of a new chat show.

‘Alan has always been a star – but it’s amazing what a month in a Scottish castle can do to elevate your career,’ says the BBC source. ‘He’s ours now.’