Cliff Notes – Channel 4 series Virgin Island blasted as ‘creepy’ by shocked viewers
- The new reality series features 12 virgins aged 22 to 30 on a Mediterranean island, engaging in intimacy exercises with sex experts, leading to viewer discomfort.
- Many viewers expressed concerns over the therapists’ methods, describing them as “creepy” and “exploitative,” while sympathising with the participants’ insecurities.
- Upcoming episodes promise further intimate explorations, including anatomy lessons and increased emotional stakes among the cast.
Channel 4 series Virgin Island blasted as ‘creepy’ by shocked viewers
Viewers of the new Channel 4 series Virgin Island have shared their shock over the content as the first episode hits screens.
The reality show follows 12 virgins aged between 22 and 30 who are sent to a luxury Mediterranean island for two weeks to work through a series of exercises with sex experts to help them overcome their barriers around intimacy.
In the first episode, we go straight into the action as the cast is brought together to go through some vocal breathing exercises, explore consent and watch the sex therapists push each other against the wall as they moan.
From there, the stakes only increase as a few of them, including cast members Emma and Zac, were given one-on-one sessions to explore their relationship with touch, which led to one therapist kissing Zac on the neck.
Later, the group was encouraged to write their hottest sexual fantasies down and recite them to everyone else – and were once more offered the chance to get intimate with the experts in even more one-on-one sessions.
From low self-esteem issues to body image problems and a fear of touching – various members shared their insecurities.
There are plenty of intimate one-to-one sessions with the sex experts and therapists (Picture: Channel 4)
And those watching at home have expressed how ‘creepy’ the experts came across and sympathised with those taking part.
‘I’m finding this very creepy, I wouldn’t like that and I’m not a virgin. The therapists are strange this is not right,’ kellyhayward6 wrote on X.
‘This is so exploitative. I’m panicking myself and I’m watching it at home!! I can’t even imagine being one of them right now,’ vikki_hughes added.
‘Anyone else a bit creeped out by this show?’ dan_thatdan shared.
‘These therapists are making me feel uncomfortable. A stranger touching you, I think that is an awkward situation,’ jail89_91 said.
‘This Virgin Island is breaking my heart and making me so sad , but it’s also feels a little exploitative , know they all have signed consent but still,’ druhorton agreed.
Viewers extended their sympathy to those on the show (Picture: Channel 4)
And thought the therapists came across as creepy (Picture: Channel 4)
‘Listen my heart goes out to these on here with the confidence they are lacking. But these lot putting it on them is not going to help them one bit when they leave this island,’ colsmith sympathised.
‘…Actually now feel so sorry for some of them and hope they get past their barriers,’ philcollins3186 reflected.
‘Even people who are comfortable with their sexuality would find it difficult to reveal their sexual fantasies,’ macewindu pointed out.
The show, airing weekly throughout May, has already teased what more is to come such as a female anatomy lesson for the boys with a live instructor and an escalation of intimacy between everyone on the island.
The trailer says the cast will ‘experience temptation, chase connection, and experience intimacy’ and Channel 4 describes the show as a ‘warm, authentic and thought-provoking series’.
Those involved hail from a range of backgrounds, from a drama graduate to a delivery driver to a dog groomer.
Virgin Island’s next episode will air on May 13. It will then air on May 19, May 20, May 26 and May 27 at 9pm on Channel 4.