On a chilly November evening in 2025, millions of viewers tuned in to BBC One to witness what many have called the "TV moment of the year": Alan Carr, the beloved 49-year-old comedian, bursting into tears as he was crowned the winner of The Celebrity Traitors. The finale, which aired on November 6 from 9pm to 10:10pm, saw Carr outwit the remaining faithful contestants in the iconic Scottish castle, securing the entire £87,500 jackpot for his chosen cause—children’s cancer charity Neuroblastoma UK.
The emotional climax was the result of weeks of intense competition that began at the start of October, with 19 celebrities, including the likes of Sir Stephen Fry, Olympian Tom Daley, singer Charlotte Church, and TV presenter Kate Garraway, all vying for victory. The show, hosted by Claudia Winkleman, challenged contestants to navigate a treacherous game of deception and deduction, with players divided into "Faithfuls" and "Traitors." The final trio—Faithfuls David Olusoga and Nick Mohammed, joined by Traitor Alan Carr—kept viewers on the edge of their seats until the dramatic reveal.
Alan Carr’s journey to the top was anything but straightforward. Despite being known for his expressive face and self-confessed lack of a poker face, Carr managed to keep his true identity as a Traitor hidden until the very end. In the tense final moments, Carr revealed his role and, overwhelmed with emotion, apologized to his co-stars. “I am and have always been a traitor... I'm so sorry, it's been tearing me apart,” he confessed, according to The Mirror. He later told presenter Claudia Winkleman, “All that lying, all that treachery was worth it, wasn't it?”
Nick Mohammed, the Ted Lasso actor and one of the final Faithfuls, was visibly stunned by the revelation. “Not Joe!” he exclaimed, referring to former England rugby star Joe Marler, another finalist. “Alan Carr. He played an absolute blinder.” Carr, still reeling from the victory, responded with disbelief: “What a rollercoaster, how did this happen? I was awful at lying and had a terrible poker face and here I am, the winner.”
The public’s reaction was immediate and effusive. Social media buzzed with praise, memes, and declarations of Carr’s performance as one of the most iconic in the show’s history. One fan tweeted, “TV moment of the year! Alan Carr ultimate traitor!” while another remarked, “I fear no traitor will ever be quite as iconic as Alan Carr ever again.” Carr himself seemed to relish the attention, telling PA news agency, “I think me and the entire nation didn’t believe I would get through the first roundtable let alone be in the final five. What a journey. I would do it all again in a heartbeat.”
But Carr’s triumph extended far beyond entertainment value. In a move that touched hearts across the UK, he pledged the entire £87,500 prize to Neuroblastoma UK, a charity he has supported as a patron for nine years. “It’s an absolute privilege to be able to support Neuroblastoma UK, whether it’s raising awareness or funds. I’m so pleased I can use my platform to show how amazing this charity is,” Carr told The Independent. Neuroblastoma is a rare and aggressive cancer, most common in children under five, and often goes undiscussed in public forums.
The impact of Carr’s gesture was immediate. Katy Yeandle, whose three-year-old son Joseph died on December 27, 2021, from stage four neuroblastoma, expressed her gratitude on BBC Breakfast: “It was amazing because nobody knows about neuroblastoma cancer. When Joseph was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, we didn’t know what it was. And now people are starting to talk about it because of Alan Carr, because of his amazing donation to the charity.” Yeandle, along with her sister Emma Rees, established the charity Joseph’s Smile to raise awareness and support for families affected by childhood cancer. She added, “Thank you, thank you for raising that awareness because one thing that I found during this whole childhood cancer journey is that childhood cancer isn’t talked about enough.”
Neuroblastoma UK’s trustee, Tori Oldridge, echoed the sentiment, telling The Independent, “I didn’t think he was going to win. It was really exciting. Last night, we were on the edge of our seats. We were glued to the screen. We all felt the emotion he was feeling. He did so, so well.” The charity’s head of fundraising and communications, Emily Hood, called Carr a “faithful patron” and described moments like this as “transformational” for a small charity with a big mission: to find better treatments and ultimately a cure for every child facing neuroblastoma.
During a post-show interview on the visual podcast Uncloaked, Carr reflected on the emotional toll of his win: “The charity is so close to my heart that it all became a bit too much. Hopefully, when people see how upset I was, they won’t feel so bad that I killed all those national treasures. I told one person at the charity and they started crying, so that gives you some idea of how important this money will be to them. Neuroblastoma is such a cruel disease, and this money will literally save lives. It’s a charity and disease that no one has really heard of, so with the viewing figures being what they are, it’s going to be so good for the charity.”
Carr’s visibility and generosity have not gone unnoticed by the entertainment industry. Following his victory, speculation mounted that he may be tapped as a host for Strictly Come Dancing, as current hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman are rumored to be stepping down. According to The Mirror, a BBC source hinted, “He has got to be up there with the BBC to get a huge new role... Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Strictly.” Another insider told The Daily Mail, “Alan has always been a star – but it’s amazing what a month in a Scottish castle can do to elevate your career. He’s ours now.”
For Carr, who joined The Celebrity Traitors “simply looking for a bit of fun” after being overlooked for a judging role on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, the experience has proven transformative. His “super competitive streak” and charisma, praised by both viewers and fellow contestants, have not only won him a coveted television title but also reignited conversations about a devastating childhood disease.
As the credits rolled on that unforgettable finale, one thing was clear: Alan Carr’s victory resonated far beyond the castle walls. His triumph brought joy to fans, hope to families facing neuroblastoma, and a renewed spotlight on a disease that desperately needs it. In the world of reality TV, few moments have managed to blend entertainment, empathy, and impact quite like this one.
