Topics: TV And Film, Virgin Island, Entertainment, Sex and Relationships
As the finale of Virgin Island is now out, star Ben Harris has opened up about his experience on the Channel 4 programme.
The reality show followed 12 people aged between 22 and 30 who had never had sex before as they travelled to a luxury retreat in Croatia to work with sex experts on overcoming their barriers around intimacy.
The final episode of the show aired on Channel 4 on Tuesday evening (27 May) and saw the contestants say their final goodbyes to the luxury resort, and the therapists who had helped them on their journeys.
Only one participant, Dave, lost their virginity on the show, going all the way with their surrogate partner Kat Slade.
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"I feel good about being the person with him at that important moment," Kat later admitted during a confessional.
Dave added: "I am proud I can finally say I am not a virgin anymore.
"The fact I am no longer a virgin is great, it's such a relief."
One contestant who didn't lose his virginity was Ben, who has since spoken about his experience.
Writing on X after the final episode, he said: "Hope you all enjoyed #VirginIsland! It was an amazing experience and I got so much out of it and met some incredible people."
People were quick to praise Ben, with many saying that he was their 'favourite'.
Ben also wrote an article for The Times in which he explained that although he is still a virgin, his time on the show was hugely successful.
However, his intimacy journey after the show was halted due to the fact he lost his job.
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.
"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."
Overall, Ben described his experience on the show as successful, adding: "My experience on Virgin Island was an unqualified success in an otherwise dreadful year, yet here I am still in a similar position as far as dating is concerned, albeit with a radically improved mindset."
You can stream all episodes of Virgin Island on Channel 4 now.
