Virgin Island, the new reality series from Channel 4, has garnered a mixed response from viewers as some admitted they were "creeped out".
The series, which premiered on Monday (12 May), follows 12 "courageous virgins" between the ages of 22 and 30 as they embark on a "unique" intimacy course at a luxury "hands-on" retreat, all with the aim of "overcoming" their anxieties towards sex.
Filmed in the Mediterranean, the first two instalments of the series saw the various cast members participate in several workshops designed around intimacy and physical touch, with each session being organised by an "expert" team of sex therapists.
Following the airing of the first two parts, several viewers took to social media to express their discomfort, with one user noting via Instagram that they were "confused" and "creeped out" by a scene involving a cast member and a therapist.
"This is so weird? It's like they're really flirting, I bet he had mixed signals after this. She can't be a real licensed therapist for real?" remarked another viewer, with another adding that it was "weird" that a therapist seemed to "enjoy" the exchange.
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"There’s something creepy about the teachers/instructors.. #virginisland" wrote another viewer on X, with one quipping: "Don't know if I should watch episode 2 or ring the police... #virginisland."
"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 #virginisland" wrote another viewer, while another suggested that the cast members would benefit from insight on "confidence" and "self-esteem" instead.
Despite acknowledging the "excruciating" nature of the programme, one viewer seemed relatively positive as they shared that they would be tuning in for the next episode, while one viewer quipped that X "was made" for shows like Virgin Island.
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"Anybody watching #VirginIsland? I can’t watch it because I’m cringing but can’t take my eyes off it either, I’m so conflicted! Will I be tuning in tonight? Absolutely!" wrote one positive viewer.
Despite several negative comments, there were some viewers who praised the show as "awesome", with one user writing on Instagram that "learning by doing is the best teaching technique".
Virgin Island airs and streams on Channel 4.
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Reporter, Digital Spy George is a freelance writer who specialises in Movies and TV. After graduating with a degree in Film Studies and Journalism from De Montfort University, in which he analysed the early works of Richard Linklater for his dissertation, he wrote for several websites for GRV Media. His film tastes vary from blockbusters like Mission: Impossible and John Wick to international directors such as Paolo Sorrentino and Hirokazu Kore-eda, and has attended both the London and Berlin film festivals.
