CHANNEL 4 has revealed the 12 brave hopefuls looking to overcome their intimacy issues on the second series of Virgin Island.
Here’s everything you need to know about on the Bafta-nominated reality show.
Dr Danielle Harel, Celeste Hirschman and a team of experts are on hand to help the hopefuls overcome their intimacy anxiety Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Who is in the Virgin Island series 2 cast?
Executive Producer Tom Garland said series 2 of is going to another level with the participants.
He explained: “We wanted to keep some of the old classics like the dating phase, the body phase. These were things that are really important to people.
“They’re things that maybe they have gaps in their knowledge and it was important for us to keep those classics.
“But also I think there was definitely an opportunity to explore turn-ons a little bit more. That’s all to do with turn-ons.
“Technique I think was something that resonated a lot with the group and the audience as well.
“And just dipping our toe into the kink world and play time.
“And sort of trying to stop it being scary and actually making it something that is a little bit more accessible.”
Expert Celeste Hirschman added: “I feel like kinks are really really important because so many people have them.
“When I think of it, I think like sex is really play time. And kinks are one way that people play. And a lot of people like to play with power or sensation.
“And all of that enhances the intensity and arousal and experience. So we wanted people to have access to all these different kinds of feelings.”
Here’s the cast of participants taking part in the second series of .
Alex
Alex is anxious about lovemaking Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Alex, a 28-year-old data analyst from , has had girlfriends before, but his anxiety has got in the way of physical intimacy.
He said: “I applied because anxiety had become tangled up with sex and pleasure for me, to the point that intimacy felt like fear, pressure and performance rather than enjoyment.
“I wanted expert help to break that cycle, get out of my head, and learn to approach sex as something safe, connected and fun.”
Bertie
Bertie describes himself as a ‘grade-A virgin’ Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Bertie, a 24 year-old event volunteer from , suffers from low self-esteem and body confidence issues.
He describes himself as a “grade-A virgin” and has never kissed anyone before.
Bertie worries that sex would feel overwhelming and is scared of reaching middle age without experiencing intimacy.
Callum
Callum doesn’t know how to let his guard down Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Callum, 21, comes from and is currently unemployed.
The youngest of series 2’s participants, he has never been kissed and spends a lot of time gaming and sleeping.
He said: “I don’t know how to put my guard down and let someone in.”
Ed
Ed worries that girls will think he is ‘weird or gross’ Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Ed, a 27-year-old from Staffordshire who is currently unemployed, hasn’t experienced sex or intimacy of any kind.
He was born with limb difference in his arm and hand – – and has scars on his chest from procedures to correct a missing pectoral muscle and correct his fingers.
Ed worries that girls will think he is “weird or gross” and feels a growing sense of isolation.
Ellen
Ellen worries she will ‘do it wrong’ when it comes to anything sexual Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Ellen, a 35-year-old childcare practitioner from Hayward’s Heath, has never gone beyond kissing someone.
She suffers from anxiety around touch and physical closeness, and worries she will “do it wrong” when it comes to anything sexual.
Ellen said: “I’d felt alone and embarrassed about my anxiety around sex and intimacy, and I wanted support to build confidence in my sexuality and finally feel comfortable giving and receiving pleasure.”
Jason
Jason’s friends applied for Virgin Island for him Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Jason, a 26-year-old Postman from struggles to even talk about sex.
He said: “I didn’t apply myself – my friends applied to it but I decided to go with it after watching a few episodes.
“I honestly didn’t know what I’d hope to get out of the experience beyond vague ideas of improving my confidence with women.”
Joy
Joy is weighed down by religious shame Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Joy, a 22-year-old event coordinator from Falmouth, said she needs to overcome her religious shame around sex.
She also suffers from – a medical condition that causes the vaginal muscles to involuntarily tighten, which can make extremely painful or impossible.
Joy said: “Despite having a Vaginismus diagnosis for years, I had only made minimal progress and was starting to lose hope of ever being healed.”
Katie
Katie was bullied and ended up hating her appearance Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Katie, a 22-year-old nanny from , wants to fall in love but was scarred from horrific bullying at school over her appearance.
She said: “I applied to be on Virgin Island because I felt really behind when it came to anything dating and sexual.
“I was also so insecure and hated my appearance and have struggled with that my entire life.”
Marianne
Marianne says her ADHD gets in the way of getting close to another person Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Marianne, a 26-year-old theatre hospitality worker from London, believes her ADHD has impacted her progress when it comes to sex.
She said: “Living with ADHD, I work very hard to take care of my mental health and to work through personal challenges.
“But I’ve always felt that, when it comes to certain aspects of physical intimacy, there’s a wall I haven’t been able to get past.”
Millie
Mille has had therapy to overcome her intimacy issues Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Millie, a 22-year-old theatre usher from Dudley, thought she would lose her virginity at university, and has had therapy to stop feeling “broken”.
She said: “I knew I had unresolved issues that needed addressing to progress in life, and of course to have great sex.
“I hoped to come away from the from therapy confident, carefree, knowledgeable about female anatomy, and overall accepting of myself.”
Tegan
Tegan has never gone beyond kissing Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Tegan, a 25-year-old accountant from Glasgow, is joining the cast to gain more confidence.
She said: “I decided to apply to Virgin Island because I was feeling like I was succeeding in every part of my life aside from my romantic and sexual life.
“I have a steady job and my own home, but I had never gotten past the first date or done anything more than kiss someone drunk in a nightclub.”
Will
Will’s friend suggested he should apply for Virgin Island Credit: Channel 4 / Rob Parfitt
Will, a 30-year-old landscape gardener from Solihull, says he worries about premature ejaculation.
He explained: “My friend sent me the application and I thought, ‘well, what’s the worst that can happen?’
“I have had a fear of premature ejaculation for a long time and hoped this was something the therapists may be able to help me with.”
Who are the Virgin Island experts?
The experts returning to are:
- : Sex and relationship coach, co-founder of the Somatica Institute
- : Sex and relationship coach, co-founder of the Somatica Institute
- Kate Slade: Surrogate partner therapist
- Andre Lazarus: Surrogate partner therapist
- Aisha Paris Smith: Sexological bodyworker
- Dr Abby Sheneman: Clinical therapist
New experts joining this series include:
- Shelby Devlin: BDSM coach
- Risdon Roberts: Surrogate partner therapist
- Ilil Lunkry: Sexological bodyworker
- Jason King: Sexological bodyworker
When is Virgin Island on?
Season 2 of launches at 9pm on Channel 4 on Monday, April 27, 2026.
Here’s the full schedule for the eight-part series:
- Episode 1 – Monday, April 27 at 9pm
- Episode 2 – Tuesday, April 28 at 9pm
- Episode 3 – Monday, May 4 at 9pm
- Episode 4 – Tuesday, May 5 at 9pm
- Episode 5 – Monday, May 11 at 9pm
- Episode 6 – Tuesday, May 12 at 9pm
- Episode 7 – Monday, May 18 at 9pm
- Episode 8 – Monday, May 18 at 10pm
The last two instalments of the second series will air back-to-back in a double bill.
All episodes are also available on the streaming platform after broadcast.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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