ONE in eight 26-year-olds is a virgin – but 12 are about to pop their cherries on prime-time TV.
is bold new social experiment, following a group of twenty- something virgins as they undergo radical therapy to overcome their fears of .
The not-so-dirty dozen — unveiled for the first time today — cite body confidence issues, social and past trauma for stopping them from going all the way.
But the programme’s sexperts reckon there is a bigger factor at play — X-rated website .
Celeste Hirschman, co-founder of the Somatic Institute in , said: “So many young folks are not trying things, connecting or dating. They’re just on their computers. They get a little bit aroused and instead of trying to meet somebody, they go on OnlyFans.
“And so they don’t really have those experiences of real-life .
“There’s nothing wrong with dabbling with things on the internet, but it’s so much more fulfilling to be able to make those real connections.”;
The show takes the revolutionary step of pairing the virgins with qualified “surrogate partners”; who will, quite literally, deliver a hands-on experience.
Known as “sexological bodyworkers”;, they demonstrate how to be intimate and will go all the way if the participants so desire. Channel 4 executive Jonah Weston added: “That whole surrogacy process is about working out how you can be with a human being in the real world rather than just objectifying somebody on the internet.
“It’s just bringing it away from that online world, getting them in a place where they can be with each other and deal with people on an old- fashioned human basis.”;
The series is set on a tiny, Croatian island, with an array of cosy-looking love dens kitted out for each session.
In the first episode alone, sexpert Danielle Harel snogs one of the virgins, delivery driver Zac, 28.
Deeming him ready to skip talking therapy and get straight to the action, she snuggles on his lap and begins to nuzzle his neck.
The lovelorn lad can’t quite believe his luck — and viewers will be shocked at the graphic intimacy of the scene.
A lot of them are very concerned about their appearance and how they match up, comparing themselves to other people in all sorts of ways — whether that be an influencer with their clothes on or porn stars on the internet
Jonah
But what is also surprising is how the show upends the stereotype of virgins being undesirable or frigid.
As well as Zac, who is just like your average bloke down the pub, there is Emma, 23, who, in her denim hotpants and with long, blonde hair, wouldn’t look out of place on
Accountant Dave, 24, has a trendy quiff hairstyle while brunette Louise, 22, could be mistaken for a model.
Erotic breathing
It backs up the research carried out by University College London, which tracked 16,000 millennials, and found that one in eight was still a virgin at 26 years old, compared with one in 20 in previous generations.
Jonah said that idealised body images portrayed in and on was a factor.
He added: “A lot of them are very concerned about their appearance and how they match up, comparing themselves to other people in all sorts of ways — whether that be an influencer with their clothes on or porn stars on the internet.”;
Enter experts Danielle and Celeste, who use the raunchy “Somatica”; approach, which actress Gwyneth, 52, advocated on her Goop lifestyle website.
They use what they call “body-based”; practices — touching and feeling — to coach their clients on intimacy.
Danielle said: “I started actually as a talk therapist, and I got my Masters in clinical social work.
“But for me, with talking therapy, you just keep talking, and people don’t really shift.
“I just realised how much power there is in experiential work, especially in the field of intimacy.”;
Celeste added: “My Masters was in human sexuality studies, then I did some research on
“When Danielle and I met for the show, we were like, ‘Let’s not do this the same old way’. We really need to bring in experiential work, because people try something, and once you try something it’s much easier to go out and try it again.”;
In another scene that will have prime-time viewers clutching their pearls, Danielle invites surrogate partner Andre Lazarus to push her against a wall and demonstrate the intimacy of erotic breathing.
It reduces terrified Emma to tears, while anxiety-stricken Jason, 25, has to sit down.
Emma, who works in the food industry, would turn heads in any bar but feels like the “DUFF — designated ugly fat friend”; among her pals.
The team hope to help her overcome her crippling insecurity.
Admin worker Jason struggles to take things out of a work setting and instead spends time with Celeste honing his handshake and talking about his cats.
But Zac, after his successful snog session with sexpert Danielle, is keen to take things further with his surrogate.
Kat Slade invites him to stroke her arm and face, but he eagerly asks: “Can we get to the next stage?”;
Some people needed more sexological body work, and some people needed surrogacy. So we had all of the different therapies available, depending on what they needed
Celeste
It is perhaps mind-boggling in today’s duty-of-care-obsessed world that certified professionals are getting it on with their clients in the name of therapy.
But Celeste argued: “Some people need discussion about the practices like intimacy, touch, arousal, desire.
“Some people needed more sexological body work, and some people needed . So we had all of the different therapies available, depending on what they needed.”;
‘Very excited’
Virgin Island producer Robert Davis said: “It’s a TV first, and nobody really knows what’s going to go on. Our biggest worry was how are they going to take to the therapy? Would they accept it?
“And was it going to be a success or were they going to run away?
“And what we got was a little bit of scepticism at first.”;
Highlighting the most compelling reason to stay the course, Danielle added: “I think they wanted to lose their virginity! They came in very excited about that and were looking forward to the experience.
“So they’re scared, but also wanting to get there. It was really important to have surrogates, who are highly trained professionals.
“It was great for them to have this option.”;
It is yet to be revealed whether the brave bunch leave the retreat having popped their cherries.
But Danielle teased: “It wasn’t just that they were coming here to lose their virginity.
“Success took many forms. And there were different wins for different people.
“They all left with an absolute spring in their step.”;
The sexperts reckon viewers will also be educated by the guidance on Virgin Island.
Danielle continued: “Everyone can get something from this — new skills about sex and relationships.”;
Anyone up for a bit of sexological bodywork?
-  Virgin Island begins on Monday at 9pm on Channel 4.
ZAC, 28 Delivery driver
“THERE was a man on TV reporting that Channel 4 was looking for adult virgins for an experimental show. This was, of course, describing me!
“At first I was like, no way, but I started to think about it more and more, and realised that I wasn’t really getting anywhere by myself.
“Time was just passing me by with no real positive change.”;
CHARLOTTE, 29 Care worker
“I WANTED to rid myself of my shame that I had surrounding my body, and my desire, and my ability to give myself pleasure.
“I did not want to be hindered in future relationships.
“I was trepidatious, and my family and friends, while supportive, weren’t very approving because of how public it would all be.”;
PIA, 23 Digital marketing
“I APPLIED to be on Virgin Island because of my struggles with vaginismus (where vaginal muscles involuntarily contract). I wanted to overcome the pain and anxiety I felt when exploring penetrative sex.
“Plus, I found intimacy incredibly overwhelming. Processing all of the intense emotions I felt was hard for me.”;
BEN, 30 Civil servant
SPEAKING about how he discovered the programme, Ben said: “A friend sent me the casting call for Virgin Island on 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’.”;
TAYLOR, 29 Receptionist
“I SPENT my whole adult life wondering why I found sexual things so difficult.
“When I was a teenager, the risks of sex seemed to far outweigh the benefits – the only benefit anyone spoke of was babies, and I wasn’t ready for one.
“In my early twenties being a virgin was almost fetishised. I felt like everyone wanted to take it.”;
EMMA, 23 Food worker
“I WAS the only virgin in my friendship group, and I felt outnumbered.
“I believed I was the only adult experiencing life without intimacy, but I couldn’t relax when there was the possibility of intimacy and I had to battle previous traumas.
“This show made me realise that being over 21 and a virgin was not as rare as I thought.”;
TOM, 23 Drama student
“I ALWAYS found myself to be a freak because I struggled to lose my virginity while others around me were popping their cherries.
“It severely affected my mental health, filling me with self-loathing.
“My love life was non-existent so when one of my friends sent me the application for Virgin Island, I leapt at the opportunity.”;
JASON, 25 Admin worker
“INTIMACY was non-existent for me and I decided to do something about it. Virgin Island was something out of my comfort zone, but a necessity.
“I am quite anti-social and the concept of being on an island with strangers was a nightmare, but it helped me improve my social skills – and, for that, I will be forever grateful.”;
DAVE, 24 Accountant
“AN initial joke by some friends for some cheap laughs slowly became the opportunity of a lifetime. I have always struggled to open up to people but this led me to feel invisible – a feeling I couldn’t take any more.
“I wanted to do something drastic. It’s also surprisingly quicker to get therapy from a Channel 4 TV show than from the NHS.”;
VIRAJ, 25 Personal trainer
“I HAD a massive struggle to express myself in front of women. It wasn’t about intimacy, but more the confidence of talking to women and making small talk.
“My friends encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone and go on the show.
“I felt extremely nervous knowing it would be on TV.”;
HOLLY, 23 Dog groomer
“I WAS at a point in my life where I was ready to be with someone, but I had anxiety and questions about myself that I felt I had to work through first.
“I was nervous not knowing what to expect and whether I was going to get anything out of it.
“The unknown was scary, but also exciting. I’ve never done anything like this before.”;
LOUISE, 22 Care advisor
“I NEVER really imagined applying for a show like Virgin Island but my friend sent me the application as a joke, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ I was willing to try anything.
“I had believed there must be something wrong with me.
“The fact that my friends would see the word ‘virgin’ and think of me says enough, to be honest.”;
