What happens when a group of people who’ve never had sex before sign up for a Reality TV show like no other? Something ‘radical,’ if Channel 4’s Virgin Island is anything to go by.
Amazingly, this isn’t even the first time the broadcaster has utilized the idea. Back in 2007, Channel 4 followed a shy 26-year-old man who visits a school run for virgins to educate them in sexuality and all aspects of dating. This was known as Virgin School.
Almost two decades later, and the same principle has been turned into something that looks more like a typical 2020s dating show. It’s basically the opposite of Love Is Blind… and love isn’t exactly the thing leading the way, either.
As the internet has already discovered, Virgin Island is a binge-worthy TV show in the making. But who are the contestants on the Channel 4 series?
Virgin Island cast & participants
Ben
- Age: 30
- Job: Civil servant
At 30, Ben said he felt left behind and wanted a proper education after continued struggles with dating.
“The first time I saw the casting call for Virgin Island, it was actually from a friend sending it to me via social media. I’m not sure if he knew I was a virgin, but he knew I’d struggled in this area. Funnily enough, my immediate response to his message was ‘not a chance’.”
After taking part in the show, he said: “I have been out on dates with three different women in the time since taking part in Virgin Island, although none of them went anywhere. While on the course, I learned a lot about myself and why I have struggled with intimacy.
“More importantly, I finished it far more confident in myself both physically and emotionally.”
Emma
- Age: 23
- Job: Food worker
Emma has never been able to relax when if was the possibility of intimacy, telling Channel 4, “I was the only virgin amongst my friendship group. At the age of 15/16 this may not be significant. However, at 23, I felt outnumbered.”
She added after the experience that she felt “more confident in setting boundaries and exploring what I enjoy when it comes to relationships.”
Charlotte
- Age: 29
- Job: Care worker
After losing 40kg, Charlotte felt she’d missed out on all the usual sex and relationship experiences her friends went through.
She signed up to get rid of the “shame that I had surrounding my body, and my desire, and my ability to give myself pleasure.”
Dave
- Age: 24
- Job: Accountant
Fed up with his “boring” life and looking to shake things up drastically, Dave entered the show for a total change.
He described the process as “the most emotionally draining process of my entire life” and “impossible to forget. I left the island feeling more complete, like I had accomplished something impossible.”
Holly
- Age: 23
- Job: Dog groomer
Holly is to fall in love, but has a fear of moving beyond a kiss and suffers from a lack of self-confidence. “I definitely feel I’ve learned a lot about myself and feel I’ve overcome a lot of the struggles I had before.
“I feel like meeting someone and having a relationship is more attainable now, and I’m ready for that next step.”
Viraj
- Age: 25
- Job: Personal trainer
Viraj comes from an Indian Hindu background that believes in arranged marriage, but instead wants to find a partner “naturally.”
“I applied to Virgin Island because I know I had a massive struggle to express myself in front of women. For me it wasn’t about the intimacy stage but more with the confidence side of talking to women and making small talk.”
Taylor
- Age: 29
- Job: Receptionist
Having never had a positive sexual experience, Taylor felt as though she couldn’t move forward until she addressed her fears.
When I was a teenager I didn’t understand why people wanted to have sex. The risks seemed to far outweigh the benefits – and to be honest the only benefit anyone spoke of was babies, and I certainly wasn’t ready for one of those!”
Zac
- Age: 28
- Job: Delivery driver
While he didn’t know what his real issues were, Zac knew he needed to look at what was affecting his confidence. “The course was challenging at times for me. I realised that I needed to learn a lot more about myself,” he said.
Jason
- Age: 25
- Job: Admin worker
Jason had body confidence struggles alongside insecurities about expressing himself to women. “My intimacy life was non-existent and I decided to do something about it. Virgin Island was something out of my comfort zone but a necessity – it has made me a million times better,” he said.
Pia
- Age: 23
- Job: Digital marketing assistant
With her last relationship ending when she was 19, Pia hasn’t been able to find love since.
She also found “intimacy incredibly overwhelming” and “processing all of the intense emotions I felt was hard for me – whether they were positive or negative”.
Louise
- Age: 22
- Job: Care advisor
Louise was originally sent an application to the show as a joke, but later realized she had nothing to lose by trying out.
“I was at the point where I was willing to try anything. I had just accepted that there must’ve just been something wrong with me – I think the fact that my friends would see the word ‘virgin’ and think of me says enough, to be honest.”
Tom
- Age: 23
- Job: Drama student
Tom was a university student during COVID, feeling like he missed out on the rite-of-passage experiences most students have.
“For the longest time, my virginity contributed to my self-identity. I always found myself to be a freak because I struggled to lose it whilst others around me continued to pop their cherries.
“It severely affected my mental health, filling me with self-loathing which in turn made me a worse person.”
Experts
Celeste Hirschman and Danielle Harel are our experts on the show, sex coaches known for their San Francisco-based Somatic Institute.
They claim to offer “orgasmic coaching” and encourage something called “cockfidence” in men.
Participants will lose their virginity to “sexological bodyworkers” Aisha, Thomas, and Joy, while intimacy issues will be tackled by “surrogate partners” Kat and Andre.
What is Virgin Island about?
As you’d expect, the name is pretty obvious here. But as Channel 4 says itself, “Twelve courageous virgins go on a unique, hands-on retreat, to help them take their first steps towards sex and intimacy.”
In a press statement, the broadcaster explained, “The modern world feels more sexualized than ever. However, detailed research by University College London reveals that the truth, especially for young people, is more surprising.
“According to the research, one in eight 26-year-olds are still virgins, compared to one in twenty in previous generations. Social media, pornography, and loneliness… there are many possible causes, but the result is unprecedented levels of body image anxiety and a fear of sex and intimacy.”
It continued, “This warm, authentic and thought-provoking series explores these issues as some of the world’s leading sexologists take the twelve courageous virgins on a unique, hands-on programme, to help them take their first steps towards sex and intimacy.
“But, with so many of the group terrified of even being touched, will any be able to fall in love, fall into bed… or even achieve their ultimate aim of losing their virginity?”
How to watch Virgin Island online
Full episodes of Virgin Island can only be watched on Channel 4.
If you’re a UK viewer, the process is straightforward. You can either watch live on a regular TV network, or sign up for a free account to watch episodes on Channel 4’s website or app.
There’s an extra step if you want to watch from outside the US, though. Alongside the above, you’re going to need a VPN for the job. Once you have one, just change your location to the right country (UK), sign up for whichever streaming service you prefer, and start streaming.
Un "super legno" più duro dell'acciaio: è Superwood. Meno emissioni inquinanti ed è anche ignifugo