Images: Ch4 Press
By Jon Donnis
Virgin Island, Channel 4's breakout streaming hit, is officially returning for a second series after making a huge splash with younger audiences. The show has become a genuine phenomenon, drawing in 16–34-year-olds in record-breaking numbers and easily outperforming the broadcaster's other recent unscripted hits.
In just its first 28 days, the debut episode became Channel 4's most-watched show of 2025 so far for that age group. It's already leapfrogged heavyweight titles like Taskmaster, Married at First Sight Australia and Gogglebox, which usually dominate. And it's not just a strong start. The series has pulled in an average of 1.4 million viewers per episode, making it Channel 4's biggest streaming success this year across all types of programming, scripted or otherwise.
What's maybe even more impressive is how it stacks up against other major titles in terms of young viewer numbers. Virgin Island is now ahead of shows like Race Across the World, Doctor Who and the rebooted Gladiators. Nearly nine million views have already been clocked up across the full series, and that's before the final numbers for the later episodes are even in.
At the heart of Virgin Island is something you don't often see on TV. The series follows twelve adult virgins as they head to a luxury Mediterranean retreat and take part in a deeply personal and hands-on course in intimacy. Led by world-class sexologists, the programme offers them the chance to confront the fears and hang-ups that have kept them from exploring this part of their lives. It's honest, emotional, and not afraid to dig into a topic that's usually wrapped up in shame or silence.
Ian Katz, Channel 4's Chief Content Officer, summed it up simply. Virgin Island is the kind of thing only Channel 4 would dare to make. It's thoughtful and funny, but also unflinching in how it deals with something so rarely shown with real compassion. He said the team were thrilled that it had struck such a chord with younger viewers, and even more so that the people involved in the show found it a constructive and positive experience.
Commissioning Editor Jonah Weston couldn't hide his pride in the series either. He called it bold, warm and well-intentioned, praising both the cast and the experts involved for creating something that clearly resonated with so many. And yes, he's already teasing a second series that promises to be even bigger and bolder.
One of the original participants, Dave, spoke about how the show completely changed his life. He talked about the boost to his confidence and how safe and supported he felt throughout filming. He also encouraged others who might be thinking about applying to take the leap, saying the experience was incredible and left a lasting impact.
The production team at Double Act, led by Executive Producer Rob Davis, are just as thrilled. He called it a bold and fresh format that clearly connected with a younger audience who recognised something real in what they were watching.
The full first series of Virgin Island is still available to stream on Channel 4, and if you're interested in applying for the next one, the details are up on their official site. Season two is already in the works, and given the reaction so far, it's shaping up to be one of the most anticipated returns of the year.
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