Overview

• Virgin Island, airing on Channel 4, follows 12 adult virgins aged 22 to 30 as they confront intimacy issues at a Croatian retreat led by professional sexologists.
• Recent episodes feature increasingly explicit therapy sessions, including surrogate partners engaging in physical intimacy exercises with participants to address deep-seated fears and anxieties.
• The show has sparked debate over the ethics of televised intimacy, particularly as participants engage in exercises such as exploring surrogates’ bodies and sharing personal sexual fantasies.
• While some viewers describe the series as heartwarming and empowering, others criticize it as awkward and exploitative, highlighting concerns about participant welfare.
• The series is informed by a University College London study revealing that one in eight 26-year-olds in the UK remain virgins, reflecting broader societal trends in declining sexual activity.