Virgin Island stars say having sex with experts isn't like 'hooking up' on nights out as they defend show

Stars of the controversial new show, Virgin Island have spoken out in its defence.

Jason and Taylor appeared on This Morning earlier today (13 May), as viewers were left in shock and cringing following the first episode last night.

The pretty wild Channel 4 shows follows 12 virgins (between the ages of 22 and 30) as they head to a luxury retreat for a ‘hands-on’ course in intimacy.

Led by Dr Danielle Harel and Celeste Hirschman, they work with specialists including Surrogate Partners and Sexological Bodyworkers to overcome the fears holding them back from sex.

So, yes, the potential is there that the participants will have sex with these surrogates.

But two of them explained that getting it on with the experts isn’t like ‘hooking up’ with someone on a night out.

Jason explained that, while he didn’t have a Surrogate assigned, these specialists are there for ‘the nitty gritty.'

“All the therapists, you can't knock them, even if you tried, they were so amazing," he added. "They did definitely throw you in at the deep end, but they were there to guide us and they truly did guide us."

Host Ben Shephard went on to describe the role of Surrogates as an ‘extraordinary job’ as Taylor made it clear she felt comfortable with what the specialists did.

The work with the specialists is pretty hands on. (Channel 4)

“It’s better than… because if you’re in a situation where you’re going to go home and then have to do this with a stranger, [the specialists are] in a place where they’re able to guide you through it, keep you safe, keep you calm, and take it in a really therapeutic place,” she explained.

“It’s not like hooking up with somebody on a night out. It’s therapy, and it’s all about taking you through the steps of intimacy and getting you to there.”

Danielle and Celeste also spoke to LADbible about the role of these Surrogates and their 'authentic process.'

“They have a pretty structured protocol that they need to go through, that they have found is most helpful to people who are learning, and may end up having a full sexual experience with a client,” Celeste said. “So there's a very, structured, systematic approach in that way.”

While the Surrogates explore 'two-way touch', the Sexological Bodyworkers are more focused on the 'one way.'

Those specialists are described as 'doing a little bit more of the work around the functional, and kind of sensation-based expansion of pleasure in the body.'