KATIE HIND: How ‘a bit of a giggle’ turned into a Traitors triumph for the Chatty Man… so will presenting Strictly Come Dancing be Alan Carr’s REAL prize?

When Alan Carr signed up for Celebrity Traitors he expected nothing but a few giggles. But last night the comedian emerged victorious, beating much-loved former England rugby star Joe Marler and his friend Traitor Cat Burns.

A friend said the former Chatty Man presenter believed taking part was ‘something to pass the time’ and that ‘the thought of being in a castle was fun for him’.

She also thought she would be ‘completely crushed’ by her famous friends and would be able to return home in a few hours.

Before finding out she had won the series (along with £87,500 for the charity of her choice), Carr said of her time on the show: ‘Frankly I’m a better liar and a better Traitor than I thought.’

The outcome was soured for many after a Canadian streaming service uploaded the final episode in the early hours of yesterday morning and removed it 90 minutes later. A spokesman for the BBC implored anyone who saw the leak to ‘keep anything they believe they know to themselves’.

A thorough investigation is expected to determine how such an error occurred. Carr’s victory comes after weeks in which the BBC One show put its 14 million viewers into head-to-head competition with the big-name actors.

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

As The Traitor, Carr achieved what audiences described as a “grim and suspenseful start”. It was unclear whether she could keep a secret, while her treacherous friend Jonathan Ross worried she might give herself away.

Comedian shocked when he tricked fellow cast members into winning in dramatic finale

Alan Carr thought he would be ‘completely crushed’ by his famous friends on popular TV show

The comedian instantly became a fan favorite with his sound bites and jokes

This is the moment Alan Carr revealed to his cast mates that he was a traitor

You can’t blame Ross; Even Carr’s friends told me a week ago that he had won.

One of them said: ‘No one thought Alan could be a Traitor: he was an incredibly funny and enterprising man. There was no side to him. It was hilarious the whole way through.

‘Alan flew under the radar. He wasn’t the first to name it [to accuse someone of being a Traitor, which could see them kicked off the show]but when the dice were thrown he would join in.’

Throughout the series, she betrayed her friend Paloma Faith, targeted the person she was closest to and ‘killed’ her in plain sight.

Faith, who also had a good friend outside the castle, was stunned by his infidelity.

This must have been addictive for Carr, who later became “very enthusiastic when it came to murders,” according to one of his friends.

They said, ‘He found his own rhythm.’ ‘That ruthless, competitive streak came out.’

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

Alan was chosen as one of the three Villains, along with singer Cat Burns and presenter Jonathan Ross.

Former Chatty Man presenter believed taking part would be ‘something to pass the time’

Carr’s victory comes after the BBC One show left its 14 million viewers on edge for weeks, with celebrities pitted against each other.

Alan made it all the way to the final alongside his friend Traitor Cat Burns, who fell out in the final roundtable.

Carr said: ‘I started this game a bit nervous. I threw very good friends under the bus, I openly murdered national treasures. ‘I’m clearly a better liar and a better traitor than I thought.’

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

Carr was celebrating his win last night; Close friends Amanda Holden and singer Adele said her win was ‘amazing’. Carr was so sure he would lose that he told friends and family he would ‘call them in a few days’ before setting off for Scotland.

After entering the fort in June, Alan found himself face to face with the likes of presenter Kate Garraway, singer Charlotte Church and historian David Olusoga. ‘You couldn’t help but love him,’ says one of the contestants. ‘But no one thought he would make it to the final.’

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

Known for his high-pitched laugh and hard teeth, Carr rose to fame in 2006 when he co-hosted the Channel 4 comedy variety show The Friday Night Project with Justin Lee Collins.

He quickly became a household name and appeared on the comedy panel 8 Out of 10 Cats Counting Down. In 2019, she became a judge on the reality competition series RuPaul’s Drag Race UK. He also hosted Radio 2’s Saturday night program Going Out with Alan Carr between 2009 and 2012.

Although he didn’t grow up in show business, Carr came from a well-known football family.

Claudia and Alan share a glass of champagne after being declared the winner

Rugby star Joe Marler axed from show in BBC drama’s dramatic climax

The moment Nick finds out Alan is a traitor in the series’ final round

Carr pictured with 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.

Last night’s sensational win will make up for being rejected for a potential role as a judge on Britain’s Got Talent in 2023, according to Carr. The former Strictly Come Dancing judge was left furious after being taken to task by Bruno Tonioli.

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

A source on the show told me that ‘people loved Alan’. The BBC believes audiences ‘loved it and [think] Insiders say he is the star of Traitors.

She is among the candidates to become the next presenter of Strictly Come Dancing following the departure of Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly last month.

‘He needs to be at the BBC so he can get a big new role,’ says my source. ‘Wink, wink, nudge, nudge, Absolutely.’

There is even talk of a new chat show.

BBC source said: ‘Alan has always been a star; “But it’s surprising what a month in a Scottish castle can do to boost your career,” he says. ‘He is ours now.’