Ladbible X Whatsapp
  • iconNews
  • videos
  • entertainment
  • Home
  • News
    • UK News
    • US News
    • Australia
    • Ireland
    • World News
    • Weird News
    • Viral News
    • Sport
    • Technology
    • Science
    • True Crime
    • Travel
  • Entertainment
    • Celebrity
    • TV & Film
    • Netflix
    • Music
    • Gaming
    • TikTok
  • LAD Originals
    • Say Maaate to a Mate
    • Daily Ladness
    • Lad Files
    • UOKM8?
    • FreeToBe
    • Extinct
    • Citizen Reef
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • UNILAD
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
Snapchat
TikTok
YouTube

LAD Entertainment

YouTube

LAD Stories

Submit Your Content
Virgin Island star reveals mum's reaction to him going on controversial 'sex therapy' show

Home> Entertainment> TV

Updated 14:38 15 May 2025 GMT+1Published 14:39 15 May 2025 GMT+1

Virgin Island star reveals mum's reaction to him going on controversial 'sex therapy' show

30 years old on the show, he says he doesn't 'regret it at all'

Jess Battison

Jess Battison

One of the stars of Virgin Island has revealed his mum’s reaction to finding out that he was going on the controversial show.

It’s fair to say Channel 4’s latest series has caused an absolute stir as 12 adult virgins go to a retreat for a unique ‘hands-on’ course in intimacy.

They work with sex experts and coaches as therapy sessions and workshops help them overcome the fears and worries holding them back.

Advert

And while it’s been leaving plenty of viewers shocked, many of the participants have spoken out in defence of Virgin Island.

In particular, Ben has been sharing more about his experience on the show as he says he doesn’t ‘regret taking part at all’.

The now-31-year-old labels himself as a ‘complete sex rookie’, and decided he ‘needed to do something drastic’ to combat his ‘deep fear’ surrounding sex.

Writing a post about going on Virgin Island for his Substack, Ben recalls being bullied in school and believing he is ‘physically repulsive to women’.

“Relationships were for other people, I subconsciously told myself,” he explains. “It left me feeling somewhat sad and isolated, like an alien or an artificial human who just couldn’t quite grasp the intricacies of love.”

Advert

He says he was ‘absolutely’ scared about opening himself up to the world as he hadn’t been very open about his virginity with most of his friends and family, ‘let alone random strangers’. But Ben decided it was ‘worth the risk’ and wanted it to be the ‘wild thing’ he throws himself into in his ‘fairly boring life’.

Ben says it was a 'shock' for his mum (Channel 4)
Ben says it was a 'shock' for his mum (Channel 4)

So, not long after his initial informal interview with the show’s casting director, the first person he told was his mum.

“This came as quite of a shock to her, and she openly admitted that she never thought someone like me would sign up for such an experience,” he writes.

“She was nonetheless supportive, as were the select few other friends and family I told as my participation in this endeavour went from a mere possibility to a daunting reality.”

Advert

Ben also describes the ‘selection process’ for Virgin Island as ‘incredibly thorough’.

Ben doesn't regret going on the show 'at all' (Channel 4)
Ben doesn't regret going on the show 'at all' (Channel 4)

He adds: “I cannot fault Channel 4 or anyone else involved with the production of this programme in the way this sensitive matter was handled.”

Regarding the higher rate of virgins in their 20s and the impact of the show, Ben says: “If this show helps to clear even a fraction of the stigma associated with being an adult virgin, it’ll have all been worth it. Even if it doesn’t, I know I got a lot out of it, and I don’t regret taking part at all.”

Virgin Island continues on Channel 4 on Monday 19 May at 9pm.

Featured Image Credit: Channel 4

Topics: Channel 4, Sex and Relationships, TV and Film, Virgin Island, Sex Education

Jess Battison
Jess Battison

Jess is a Senior Journalist with a love of all things pop culture. Her main interests include asking everyone in the office what they're having for tea, waiting for a new series of The Traitors and losing her voice at a Beyoncé concert. She graduated with a first in Journalism from City, University of London in 2021.

X

@jessbattison_

Advert

Advert

Advert

Choose your content:

an hour ago
2 hours ago
17 hours ago
  • an hour ago

    Netflix adds Tom Cruise cyberpunk film that ‘correctly predicted the future’ over 20 years ago

    The Steven Spielberg film was also included on a New York Times list of the top 100 films of the century

    Entertainment
  • 2 hours ago

    There's an unspoken rule at Disneyland that guests are breaking and 'spoiling experience for everyone'

    Remember, you're not the only person paying to visit the park

    Entertainment
  • 2 hours ago

    People can't help but notice Gillian Anderson's awkwardness in iconic line up of celebrities compared to 'The Hunger Games'

    The actress appeared to demonstrate her aptitude for staring contests in the now-viral clip

    Entertainment
  • 17 hours ago

    Oasis fans in shock after hearing soundcheck for first gig in 16 years this week

    Liam and Noel Gallagher are back with their Live '25 Tour on Friday (4 July)

    Entertainment
  • Bloke who had sex for first time on Virgin Island reveals what his now girlfriend thinks about him being on show
  • Virgin Island star ‘banned’ from speaking to surrogate he had sex with on show
  • Virgin Island viewers left stunned as participants strip off and go fully nude on show
  • Sex surrogate defends getting intimate with virgin on new Channel 4 show