The sex coaches from Channel 4‘s eyebrow-raising reality show Virgin Island have been revealed as a ‘sexological bodyworker’ who teaches women how to orgasm and a ‘somatic artist’ who runs play fighting workshops.
The six-part series will see 12 individuals who have never had sex before travel to Croatia with the aim of losing their virginity on camera.
Aged between 22 and 30 years old, the first-timers will work with a range of sex and relationship coaches, sexologists, ‘bodyworkers’ and even tantric masseurs to help them overcome their fears of intimacy.
Those on the coaching team range from four to 20-plus years older than the young virgins and will be using their wealth of knowledge to guide them in one-on-one and group sessions throughout the course of the show.
Among the professionals helping the young contestants feel confident and comfortable enough to pop their cherries is Thomas Rocourt, a self-described ‘somatic coach and artist’ and ‘experiential researcher’.
The bodyworker, from France, uses some unusual tactics with his clients, including ‘play fighting’ and ‘contact-improvisation’.
Dr Danielle Harel is the show’s leading expert, guiding the contestants through most of their group activities so far.
Her extensive background involves studies in ‘orgasmic birth’ as well as surrogate partner therapy.
She’s been said to work with a range of people, including CEOs and professional athletes, helping them overcome their various issues with intimacy
Also on the bill is Thomas Rocourt, a self-described ‘somatic coach and artist’ and ‘experiential researcher’, and emotional intimacy, sexual wellness and relationship ‘healer’ Joy Ridel
Dr Danielle, from California, employs niche techniques to assist people in reaching their ‘fullest sexual potential’
Sexological bodyworker Aisha Paris Smith, from the UK, will work her magic on the Virgin Island residents.
She is a ‘hands-on’ sex coach who helps women have their first orgasm, conducts sex toy tutorials, and runs self-pleasure lessons.
Joy Rigel, from Philadelphia, is an emotional intimacy, sexual wellness and relationship coach with 25 years of experience.
She said she is a ‘healer who uses touch and intuitive connection to illuminate the beauty and elemental truth that is the miracle of our being, expressed’.
DR DANIELLE HAREL
Danielle Harel is the leading expert of the show alongside Celeste Hirschman with whom she co-founded the Somatica Institute of Sex and Relationship Coaching.
She has lengthy CV after 20 years in the industry with a PhD in Human Sexuality, and a degree in Clinical Social Work and Psychology and Educational Counseling. She is a somatic sexologist, professor, and author.
Dr Danielle, from California, has published research on ‘orgasmic birth’, exploring sexual arousal and orgasm during childbirth.
She employs niche techniques to assist people in reaching their ‘fullest sexual potential’ including Hakomi, a psychotherapy method used to help individuals be more aware of how physical sensations relate to their mental and emotional states.
Dr Danielle has been the star and most hands-on sexpert of the show so far, even teaching the individuals about surrogate partner therapy.
Dr Danielle Harel (pictured) is the show’s leading expert, guiding the contestants through most of their group activities so far
She’s guided contestants through multiple activities from giving 23-year-old Zac ‘soft kisses’, and performing an intimate ‘up against the wall’ exercise with fellow coach Andre Lazarus
She also helped 29-year-old Charlotte through a dis-inhibition exercise called the ‘animal game’ where participants let out their ‘animal instincts’ through touch
She’s guided contestants through multiple activities, from giving 23-year-old Zac ‘soft kisses’, to performing an intimate ‘up against the wall’ exercise with fellow coach Andre Lazarus.
She also helped 29-year-old Charlotte through a disinhibition exercise called the ‘animal game’ where participants let out their ‘animal instincts’ through touch.
Danielle defended the show’s overtly sexual nature and the use of ‘surrogates’ who are helping the 12 people lose their virginity on camera – branding sex on other TV shows ‘harmful and unrealistic’.
The surrogate aspect involves a certified surrogate partner helping the client to learn how to cultivate meaningful connections in a safe, supportive environment.
‘If you ask me what’s better, to see so much violence on TV or sex, I’ll choose sex any minute – especially if it’s shown in a much more realistic and connected way,’ she said.
THOMAS ROCOURT
Hailing from Grenoble in southern France, Thomas is certified in ‘Somatic sex education and Sexological Bodywork’ with the Sea School of Embodiment, which provides international training courses in somatic sexology.
The ‘experiential researcher’ uses his expertise with clients to break down taboos and ‘integrate and celebrate [their] erotic being’.
‘I’m here to help you achieve greater freedom and grace in your life; moving you towards a deeper, more joyful relationship with intimacy, and a conscious sexuality,’ his website reads.
He claims to have an extensive background in dance and somatic practices and adopts some unusual techniques in his teachings, including ‘playfighting’.
Before the show Thomas, who practices shamanism, was touring with his show ‘The Wisdom of the Anus’.
Hailing from Grenoble in southern France, Thomas is certified in ‘Somatic sex education and Sexological Bodywork’ with the Sea School of Embodiment
Thomas had a one-on-one ‘touch therapy’ session with 23-year-old contestant Emma helping her become more comfortable with physical intimacy
He claims to have an extensive background in dance and somatic practices and adopts some unusual techniques in his teachings, including ‘playfighting’
‘Like the rest of your body, your anus deserves your attention, your care and your presence,’ his website reads.
‘Laugh at taboos, challenge gender prejudices, embrace the full spectrum of human emotions to open up to unexpected pleasures… It’s all here to finally dare to explore a little more of your relaxation, your orgasmic potential and your right to pleasure.’
His previous show saw him do 38 performances dressed up as his ‘drag-clown character’ Shiny Beast.
In the first episode of Virgin Island, Thomas had a one-on-one ‘touch therapy’ session with 23-year-old contestant Emma.
She struggles with very low self-esteem, broke down in tears during a group workshop and fears she would have a ‘panic attack’ if she were ever to have sex.
Thomas was helping Emma become more comfortable with physical intimacy, starting slow by placing his hands on her knee and thigh where she said she was comfortable being touched.
AISHA PARIS SMITH
Aisha Paris Smith is an award-nominated ‘somatic sexologist, bodyworker and coach’ who takes a hands-on approach to her work.
She’s been said to work with a range of people, including CEOs and professional athletes, helping them overcome their various issues with intimacy.
There are few limits around the services Aisha provides as she can conduct masturbation lessons as well as sex toy tutorials.
Aisha Paris Smith is an award-nominated ‘somatic sexologist, bodyworker and coach’ who takes a hands-on approach to her work
Aisha has had little airtime during the first two episodes of the show, but said working on Virgin Island was a ‘fun, moving and educational project’
The 34-year-old also helps her, mainly female clients, with things like achieving their first orgasm, finding their g-spot and getting back in touch with their bodies, especially after experiences with birth, abuse and chemotherapy.
She charges £220 for online sessions and £1,250 for an in-person day workshop and hosts bespoke six-day private retreats ‘to meet your desires for enhancing physical intimacy and your relationships’.
‘My sessions are therapeutic, but I’m not a therapist,’ Aisha wrote in an Instagram post.
‘The difference is that I’m here to help you into transformative change in a short space of time rather than simply bringing awareness to what’s not working.
‘You choose the pace we work at and what you want to work on, and I’ll make sure we reach our destination.’
Aisha has had little airtime during the first two episodes of the show, but said working on Virgin Island was a ‘fun, moving and educational project’.
JOY RIGEL
Joining the Virgin Island all the way from Philadelphia is Joy Rigel, who describes herself as an emotional intimacy, sexual wellness and relationship coach more than two decades of experience.
The ‘healer’ works with and hosts workshops for people who suffer from Sensory Processing Sensitivity (HSPS), a condition which is characterised by an emotional sensitivity or stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli.
Joy Rigel describes herself as an emotional intimacy, sexual wellness and relationship coach more than two decades of experience
The ‘healer’ works with and hosts workshops for people who suffer from Sensory Processing Sensitivity (HSPS), a condition which is characterised by an emotional sensitivity or stronger reactivity to both external and internal stimuli
On the show, Joy worked closely with intimacy-averse Jason, who masks his awkward feelings towards physical touch and sex with humour
She uses mindfulness, meditation and even hypnosis in her teaching techniques, offering workshops including ‘Intentional Touch Bodywork’ to help individuals, couples and groups with intimacy.
Joy’s interest in the subject started when she was just 13 after her aunt and uncle gifted her a book about mindfulness, and her dad gave me a bedtime relaxation cassette tape that included the practice of body scanning.
‘I was astonished by the immediate impact this simple technique had on my body. These two seemingly coincidental occurrences were the catalysts that ignited the flame of my lifelong spiritual unfolding,’ she said.
The sexpert penned a lengthy blog post on her website about why she said yes to joining the Virgin Island cast.
‘This show is bold and tender. And yes – the trailer focuses a lot on sex. But let me be clear: this work isn’t just about sex,’ she wrote.
‘It’s about the ability to be open, emotionally present, and deeply attuned — to ourselves, to others, and to Life. It’s about learning how to truly feel, relate, and connect.
On the show, Joy worked closely with intimacy-averse Jason, who masks his awkward feelings towards physical touch and sex with humour.
She helped the visibly-uncomfortable first-timer relax at the idea and act of being touched and touching someone else by gradually getting closer and moving her hands over his chest and arms.
VIRGIN ISLAND: MEET THE CAST!
NAME: EMMA
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: FOOD WORKER
Emma said: ‘I was the only virgin amongst my friendship group, I felt outnumbered.
‘I believed I was the only human experiencing adult life without intimacy but I couldn’t relax when there is the possibility of intimacy and I had to battle previous traumas.
‘The fact that this concept was being brought to TV made me realise being over 21 and never having sex was not as rare as I thought it was.’
NAME: BEN
AGED: 30
OCCUPATION: CIVIL SERVANT
Ben said: ‘A friend sent me the casting call for Virgin Island on social media. I’m not sure if he knew I was a virgin, but he knew I’d struggled in this area.
‘Funnily enough, my immediate response to his message was ‘not a chance’.’
NAME: DAVE
AGE: 24
OCCUPATION: ACCOUNTANT
Dave said: ‘An initial joke by some friends for some cheap laughs slowly became the opportunity of a lifetime.
‘I have always struggled to open up to people but this led me to feel invisible – a feeling I couldn’t take anymore.
‘I felt like it couldn’t continue and I wanted to do something drastic to get my life back on track.
NAME: JASON
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: ADMIN WORKER
Jason said: ‘I always felt like a failure in terms of intimacy and socialness.
‘I know the island was primarily for intimacy, but it had
the amazing bonus of helping me improve my social skills – and for that, I will be forever grateful.’
NAME: LOUISE
AGE: 22
OCCUPATION: CARE ADVISOR
Louise said: ‘I never really imagined applying for a show like Virgin Island but my friend sent me the application as a joke, and I thought, ‘Why not?’
‘I was at the point where I was willing to try anything.
‘I had just accepted that there must’ve just been something wrong with me – I think the fact that my friends would see the word ‘virgin’ and think of me says enough to be honest.’
NAME: CHARLOTTE
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: CARE WORKER
Charlotte said: ‘Because I wanted to rid myself of my shame that I had surrounding my body, and my desire, and my ability to give myself pleasure.
‘I wanted to be honest with myself so that I would not be hindered when having relationships in the future.’
NAME: HOLLY
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: DOG GROOMER
She said: ‘I felt like I was at a point in my life where I was ready to experience being with someone, but I had a lot of anxiety and questions about myself that I felt I had to work through before taking that step.
‘I was definitely nervous, not knowing what to expect, what the others were going to be like, whether I was actually going to get anything out of it.’
NAME: PIA
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: DIGITAL MARKETING ASSISTANT
Pia said: ‘I applied for Virgin Island because of my struggles with vaginismus.
‘I wanted to overcome the pain and anxiety I felt when exploring penetrative sex.
‘Plus, I found intimacy incredibly overwhelming.’
NAME: TAYLOR
AGE: 29
OCCUPATION: RECEPTIONIST
Taylor said: ‘I spent my whole adult life wondering why I found sexual things so difficult when others didn’t.
‘When I was a teenager, the risks of sex seemed to far outweigh the benefits, the only benefit anyone spoke of was babies, and I certainly wasn’t ready for one of those.
NAME: TOM
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: DRAMA STUDENT
Tom said: ‘I always found myself to be a freak because I struggled to lose my virginity whilst others around me continued to pop their cherries.
‘It severely affected my mental health, filling me with self-loathing which in turn made me a worse person.’
NAME: VIRAJ
AGE: 25
OCCUPATION: PERSONAL TRAINER
Viraj said: ‘I had a massive struggle to express myself in front of women.
‘For me it wasn’t about the intimacy stage but more with the confidence side of talking to women and making small talk.
‘This whole idea was encouraged by my friends for me to get out of my comfort zone and go through with this.’
NAME: Zac
AGE: 23
OCCUPATION: DELIVERY DRIVER
Zac said: ‘There was a man reporting that Channel 4 was looking for adult virgins to take part in an experimental TV show. This was of course describing me.
‘At first I was like – no way, I’m not gonna do that, but I started to think about it more and more, and I realised that I wasn’t really getting anywhere by myself, time was just passing me by with no real positive change.’
Little is known about Devah Curlechéile outside of the show. He is a sensuality coach, from Ireland, and has been working with Reiki and sound for 15 years
DEVAH CURLECHEILE
With a non-existent digital footprint, little is known about Devah Curlechéile outside of the show.
He is a sensuality coach, from Ireland, and has been working with Reiki and Sound for 15 years.
Devah travelling the world gathering intel from all corner of the globe for 5 years before settling in the US where he now lives.
He has also received little screen time in the aired episodes of the show and gave his two cents on Jason
‘Any time there as an increase in intensity he would distract himself with humour so that he could distract himself from what he was feeling,’ he said.
