Remember when fans feared that an all-star edition would risk ruining the hit reality game’s magic? A triumphant inaugural VIP series of The Celebrity Traitors has blown such worries out of the Highland loch water.

Ratings have surpassed 13 million, overtaking Strictly Come Dancing as the BBC’s biggest franchise. It has been the most talked-about TV show of the autumn, if not the year. Anticipation is now at fever pitch for tonight’s final. As we approach the endgame, relive the highlights so far with our cloak-clad catch-up ...

Alan gets anointed (episode 1)

Alan Carr’s treacherous trajectory has been the most dramatic turnaround in Traitors history. When he got that fateful shoulder-tap from Claudia Winkleman, the chaotic comedian came over all a-fluster. Nervously glugging rosé, he lamented: “I feel sick. I’ve got a sweating problem and can’t keep a secret.” Just watching him remove his blindfold and put his specs back on was mildly farcical. The first shot of Alan in his cloak, carrying a lantern into the turret like a Victorian nana, became an instant meme.

Entering the conclave, he revealed himself to co-conspirators Jonathan Ross and Cat Burns – who promptly screamed with laughter. Alan was set to be the worst Traitor since head-swivelling Linda. Well, wasn’t he?

Clare fluffs it (episode 1)

Of all the people to mess up, nobody predicted it would be the professionally capable Clare Balding. In the Trojan Horse task, the first gate was opened by answering the question: “How many characters die in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet comb