Traitor's winner REVEALED in SHOCKING final episode: 'What an ending!'

The 75-minute concluding episode saw the two green-cloaked players maintain their alliance throughout multiple tense roundtable votes, systematically eliminating their fellow contestants one by one.

Stephen proved instrumental in securing their triumph, repeatedly choosing to stand by Rachel when his vote proved decisive.

His decision to prioritise their Traitor partnership over personal friendships ultimately sealed their unprecedented victory.

The result left even presenter Claudia Winkleman visibly emotional, with tears flowing as she witnessed the historic moment unfold at the castle.

The finale began with unfinished business from the previous night's cliffhanger, as Rachel and James faced their chests of chance to determine who would secure the protective shield and progress to the final.

Fortune favoured Rachel, forcing James to depart the castle whilst revealing himself as a Faithful, the last contestant permitted to disclose their true identity, with subsequent eliminations keeping players guessing.

The tension appeared to affect even the normally composed Rachel, who slipped up after James's departure by declaring "If I was a Faithful, I'd murder me," before hastily correcting herself.

Following breakfast, the remaining contestants tackled their ultimate challenge, collecting money whilst scaling a dam.

Ms Winkleman then offered them the chance to add an extra £10,000 by racing back down to a waiting helicopter, which they successfully completed despite their fear, pushing the jackpot to its final total.

When the final roundtable commenced, Stephen found himself holding the decisive vote.

He stated that he needed to think with his head rather than his heart, ultimately casting his ballot against Jade and remaining true to his alliance with Rachel. Her elimination left Jade in tears.

With four players remaining, Rachel, Stephen, Jack and Faraaz, the group reconvened for another vote.

The Traitor duo coordinated their strategy, both selecting Faraaz for banishment whilst Jack persisted with his suspicions about Rachel.

Down to three contestants, each player chose to continue with one final elimination rather than ending the game.

Rachel targeted Jack, who once again voted for Rachel, leaving Stephen to determine the outcome.

He opted to maintain his loyalty to his fellow Traitor, writing down Jack's name and leaving his friend utterly devastated by the betrayal.

The historic outcome moved Ms Winkleman to tears as she watched two Traitors triumph together for the first time in the show's history across any version worldwide.

Jack was left heartbroken by Stephen's final decision, having believed their friendship would count for something when it mattered most.

The moment Stephen revealed his vote, Jack's devastation was plain to see.

Throughout the evening, viewers had been kept guessing about whether the Traitor alliance would hold firm until the very end.

The tension proved unbearable for many watching at home, with audiences uncertain whether Stephen might turn on Rachel at the crucial moment.

The emotional scenes capped off what had been a masterclass in deception and betrayal throughout the fourth series, with Rachel and Stephen's partnership surviving every test thrown at them.

Viewers were quick to take to social media to share their reactions to the dramatic grand final.

“What an ending on The Traitors. Rachel and Stephen were deserved winners,” one fan wrote, while another added: “Yes Rachel!! Played an absolute blinder and did us proud. Best contestant by a country mile.”

A third commented: “This finale more than made up for last year’s abysmal ending. Love seeing a Traitor duo finally win.”

Others praised the winning duo’s character and loyalty throughout the series. “Forget that, Rachel and Stephen are the ultimate FAITHFULS. Faith in humanity restored,” one viewer quipped.

“That is the most perfect ending to The Traitors,” another concluded.

However, not every viewer was happy with the outcome.

One disgruntled fan wrote on X: “The Traitors season four final was a difficult watch, more cruel than entertaining.”

Another added: “I’m happy for them and stuff, but £47k isn’t even that much money.”

The fourth series has proven a remarkable success for the BBC, with the opening episode drawing more than 12.1 million viewers to date.

This figure represents a 25 per cent increase compared to the third season's launch.

Younger audiences have particularly embraced the show, with 2.6 million viewers aged 16-34 tuning in for the first episode, a 30 per cent rise on the previous run. More than half the audience has been watching via iPlayer.