Virgin Island contestant reveals they’ve lost their job after ‘unqualified success’ on controversial show

A Virgin Island contestant has revealed how they ended up losing their job after filming the show last year.

The reality show follows 12 people aged between 22 and 30 who have never had sex before as they travel to a luxury retreat in Croatia to work with sex experts on overcoming their barriers around intimacy.

One contestant, Ben Harris, 31, has opened up about his experience on the Channel 4 programme, explaining that while he is still a virgin, his experience was an 'unqualified success'.

However, despite having a positive experience while filming Virgin Island, Ben explained that unfortunately, he lost his job when he returned to the UK.

Ben appeared on the Channel 4 show, Virgin Island (Channel 4)

He told The Times: "I left the idyllic Croatian retreat in May of last year full of confidence. For the first time in my life I no longer felt ugly or repulsive to women, and I had learnt some vital techniques on how to 'embrace my sexual energy', as the therapist Joy so colourfully put it. I was looking forward to putting them to the test.

"However, within a week of me arriving back in the UK, Rishi Sunak announced that there would be a general election on July 4. For the previous eight years I had been very happily employed as a parliamentary researcher to the rambunctious and indefatigable Michael Fabricant, MP for Lichfield and no stranger to reality TV himself."

Ben said his job had always been something he was proud of, and as soon as the election was called, he put his intimacy journey on hold.

"The only reason I had been able to feel confident and comfortable enough to take such a bold step of self-improvement in the first place was because I felt confident and secure in my professional life," he said.

Ben described his time on the show as an 'unqualified success' (Channel 4)

"Unfortunately, my worst fears were realised and in the early hours of July 5, my boss lost his seat, and I therefore lost my dream job. My shining source of pride, and the positive counterweight to my intimacy and self-image negativity, had been shattered into dust. Without a shadow of doubt this was the worst moment of my life."

Ben explained that losing his job had stunted his progress in finding a connection with a potential partner, although he has been speed dating and has been on a few dates since the show.

"While I have faced more rejection, it is notable that I process these setbacks in a much healthier and more positive way," he added.

You can watch all episodes of Virgin Island on Channel 4 now.