‘Adult virgins’ bare all in first look at Channel 4’s radical new series

The new Channel 4 series Virgin Island brings together 12 Brits who have never had sex to help overcome their fear of intimacy.

In an exclusive clip shared with Metro, the cast of the show arrive at a luxury Mediterranean island for a ‘radical retreat offering a very hands-on solution’ as the voiceover declares there are ‘more adult virgins than ever’.

The contestants, aged between 22 to 30, quickly open up about the insecurities that have led them onto the show, including one woman who said the label of ‘virgin’ is seen as a joke.

Some admit they feel ‘something is wrong with them’, that they are ‘absolutely terrified’ of what’s to come and the barriers facing young people in the world of intimacy and relationships today from dating apps to the overwhelming answer – porn.

The show promises to bare all as the cohort get to know one another and start to get more intimate with one another, from laying with each other in bed, getting a lesson on female genitals right from the source and attempting various sex positions.

The group of experts, including sex experts Dr Danielle Harel and Celeste Hirschman – who guide the group through this journey of intimacy with the help of specialists.

According to the clip, they are ‘ready to do anything to help Britain’s virgins lose the one thing they feel is holding them back’ – and see who will be ‘ready to go all the way’.

Who’s in the Virgin Island cast?

The cast, who span across their 20s, hail from across the UK and all have their own motivations for joining the ‘groundbreaking’ new show.

• Ben, 30, feels ‘miles behind’ his peers and was recommended to apply to the show by a friend.
• ‘Bright and friendly’ Emma, 23, struggles to ‘relax when there is a possibility of intimacy’ and believed she was ‘the only human experiencing adult life without intimacy.’
• Dave, 24, wants to gain ‘confidence in the bed’ and is ready to switch up his ‘boring life and job’ in the ‘most extreme way’.
• Jason, 25, signed up after feeling ‘too socially awkward to talk to women’ and suffering from body insecurity.

• Louise, 22, was ‘willing to try anything’ and ready to ‘step out of her comfort zone’ when applying to the show and reflected on her lack of ‘positive male role model’ and fear of a ‘young pregnancy’ as things holding her back.
• Charlotte, 29, joined the show after losing 40kg in weight and wanting to ‘rid myself of my shame that I had surrounding my body’. She’s ready to catch up on all the experiences she has missed out on.
• Dog groomer Holly, 23, who was ‘bullied at school for her weight’ has grown a fear around intimacy leading further than a kiss. She’s now at a point at her life where she’s ready to leave the anxiety behind and take the next step.
• Pia, 23, hasn’t had much luck with dating apps in years and is hoping Virgin Island will help her as she ‘struggles with vaginismus’.
• Taylor, 29, says she has ‘never had a positive sexual experience in her life’ and is filled with worry that she’ll be ‘alone forever. She shares that Virgin Island came ‘at the right time’ for her.

• Tom, 23, is a drama graduate who feels Covid lockdown meant he missed out on ‘meeting girls and having sex’. He applied for the show at an ‘incredibly low point’ in his life with the hopes of gaining some confidence.
• Viraj, 25, is hoping to ‘build his social skills’ in order to find his partner in a natural way, rather than through an arranged marriage as his family want. He’s ready to get out of his comfort zone in this social experiment.
• Zac, 28, is a delivery driver who ‘feels his virginity impacts every moment of his day’ and is hoping to ‘push past this paralysis’. He hopes the show will be the thing he needs to effect ‘positive change’.

What is the show about and when does it air?

The six-part reality series follows our cohort over the course of two weeks as they undergo a series of intimacy sessions guided by therapists and sexologists.

Channel 4 describes it as a ‘warm, authentic and thought-provoking series’ tackling this rarely-discussed issue.

The first episode airs on Monday, May 12 at 9pm on Channel 4. It will then air weekly until the end of the month.

There is also a trailer for the show, outlining the 12 young adults going on a ‘journey of self-discovery’ this summer and opening up about all their fears. They will ‘experience temptation, chase connection, and experience intimacy’, the trailer teases.

The first episode of Virgin Island airs tonight at 9pm on Channel 4.

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