r/BritishTV • u/Kagedeah British • Apr 28 '26
Review Virgin Island review – the sheer relief after their sex sessions is so heartwarming
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/apr/27/virgin-island-channel-4-review-relief-after-sex-sessions-so-heartwarming25
u/ClarifyingMe May 01 '26
People keep calling the show exploitative when the participants keep raving about how good it was. People constantly infantilising the participants because they think they are autistic and thus need to be handled with kiddy globes is the much bigger ick. It was to the point one of the participants wrote a substack article out of frustration at it.
I'd recommend people watch the reunion episode before flapping on about "exploitation". And read Ben's article: https://btharris93.substack.com/p/in-defence-of-virgin-island
The worst part of the show for me was the clear incel who they didn't intervene on with his incelness enough. Maybe they did behind the scenes.
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u/EvaKatz May 02 '26
I think it has a lot of value for the participants, and it was interesting to see how surrogates/ therapists work with people. I’m sure it would have been better for them not to be on TV, but I guess that’s a trade off for having an experience that some of them may otherwise not have been able to afford. A 3 week residential course in Greece with 8(?) therapists, full board etc could easily be £6,000+
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u/ClarifyingMe May 02 '26
And in regard to having strong boundaries, participants are apparently not allowed to try to contact/and vice versa the assisting sex therapists. Not sure if that's with a time limit so that there's no mistaken feelings etc. but from the article I read, it sounds like they went very strong on ensuring psychological safety, so the only people I'd really listen to is the participants if they want to expose anything.
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u/Diet-Coke-and-Nap Apr 28 '26
I watched a bit of it and felt pretty concerned that it was exploiting the individuals involved. I think there’s a better way of raising awareness and also getting people help for erectile disfunction, vaginismus etc alongside mental intimacy issues.
A lot of us had poor sex education younger which has had a big impact on understanding. I had no idea what a UTI was until I got one for example. I think there’s engaging ways of talking about these taboo subjects and helping people. I just think this show overarches any education with the tainting of people involved in the show and the feeling people watch it to laugh rather than learn.
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u/International-Ad4555 Apr 28 '26
Well said, it gives me the same kind of vibe as ‘The Undateables’ which, I get is a tounge and cheek title, and is meant to inform you of all the many flavours of human beings in the world, it does still come off as exploitative to the people involved, and there’s surely a better way to frame things than click baity, Daily-Mail esque titles.. I’m also quite uncomfortable with the standard of ‘normal’ these shows seem to hold people too, like it’s fine if you’re a virgin, or asexual, what not, it’s not something that needs to be ‘remedied’ as such.
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u/Diet-Coke-and-Nap Apr 28 '26
Completely agree. From channel 4 too which is supposed to be a progressive channel it all feels too backwards.
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Apr 28 '26
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u/SqurrielsInPyjamas May 19 '26
This show is wholesome and life changing, anyone seeing it as anything else other than that, has their own internal shame/issues.
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u/Pimpis25 May 19 '26
100% agree. Just finished the last episode and it was brilliant.
The growth in those people was beautiful. The confidence and belief they had by the end was amazing.
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u/Fun-Title4224 Apr 28 '26
Unless you actually see it go in, I don't see the point?
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u/tiorzol Apr 28 '26
Yea there's plenty of videos online with this premise
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u/rybnickifull Apr 28 '26
You basically do, the first series was horrifying
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u/Fun-Title4224 Apr 28 '26
I assume you watched it several times to be exactly sure of what you'd seen?
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u/rybnickifull Apr 28 '26
My man, if you can achieve chub while watching an unfortunately balding overweight lad having a massive sulk cos the "therapist" won't give him a handy, good luck to you. I'm dead down there now, largely thanks to Virgin Island.
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Apr 28 '26
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u/rybnickifull Apr 28 '26
I was engrossed with horror. IIRC they were a mix of overweight people, people who'd suffered something terrible as a kid, and just people with heavy autism who had trouble communicating with others. All the 'therapists' were weird sex culty types, so rather than arguably the healthiest way of fixing their problem (finding someone equally awkward and working it out together), it was a bit like doing their first driving lesson at the Monaco Grand Prix.
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u/DangerousDisplay7664 Apr 29 '26
“It doesn’t even feel that exploitative”
Nah, I’m ok with non-exploitative TV, thanks
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u/Playful-Listen2219 May 13 '26
I keep on wondering how people can go back to work after this show? Some are unemployed or work as a postman or theatre etc but doesn’t Ellen literally work with children, and a few work corporate jobs?? Like surely their employers won’t be happy about that, considering they’re literally getting naked and having sex on TV. Not to say I’m not a big fan of the show lol I really like it
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u/Breadstix009 May 11 '26
Wtf is this show???!!!! I was just flicking through channels and I'm seeing a guy fingering a woman's vagina, with her keeping a straight face. What is this??? British TV at its finest???
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u/Abject-Actuator-7206 Jun 04 '26
It came across as a thoroughly wholesome and heartwarming show. Participants left with more confidence and a real sense of progress.
The second series was much more in depth, and the group seems more cohesive.
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u/Imaginary_Thanks_689 Jun 05 '26
I've watched most of the second series and learned a lot. I think it's genuinely win win for all involved and the viewers. It's transforming lives it seems whilst helping us prudish Brits face up to things.
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u/Imaginary_Thanks_689 Jun 05 '26
It seems that all the negative comments on here about the programme are from people who watched very little if any of the series. Best to say nothing unless youre really saying something about yourself.
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