I lost my virginity on Virgin Island – here’s why I don’t speak to my surrogate sex partner anymore

The only participant to lose their virginity on Channel 4’s controversial new show has opened up about his off-screen dynamic with their surrogate partner.

Accountant Dave, 24, arrived in Croatia last year with the hopes to build his confidence, learn how to be in a relationship and tackle intimacy issues.

A year on, the show finally aired on Channel 4 and he was the only one out of the 12 participants to lose his virginity during the show.

Virgin Island saw the group, all aged between 22 and 30 years old, overcome a range of emotional hurdles to take their first steps towards sex and intimacy, with a range of approaches being used, including group sessions and surrogate partner therapy.

Dave was one of the virgins to explore a partnership with Kat Slade, a certified surrogate and somatic practitioner, and he has now revealed to MailOnline how the relationship played out.

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Accountant Dave, 24, arrived on the Croatian island last year with the hopes to build his confidence and learn how to be in a relationship

A year on, he was the only one out of the 12 participants (all pictured) to lose his virginity during the show

Dave was one of the virgins to explore a partnership with Kat Slade, a certified surrogate and somatic practitioner, and has revealed to MailOnline how the relationship played out

During the show, viewers witnessed Dave become more confident and explore the emotional and physical aspects of intimacy with Kat.

He lost his virginity to Kat in the final episode and, despite sharing such a big moment, hasn’t been in contact with her since leaving the island.

‘It was explained very clearly to us that you don’t stay in touch after – it’s sort of two weeks, and that’s it and then you move on,’ he shared.

‘It’s not easy to just detach from feelings, but I think it’s an important lesson of it to like have those feelings and then let go of them, which probably is one of the most important lessons.’

Despite sharing several intimate moments with Kat, Dave revealed though he ‘did have some feelings for her’, they didn’t develop into anything deeper.

‘I wasn’t, obviously, wasn’t in love with her anything,’ he said. ‘But I respected her greatly. I don’t think I was too worried about falling in love.’

Though Dave – who now has a girlfriend – was the only one on the island to lose his virginity, it wasn’t something he necessarily planned for. 

‘I went on the show looking to gain as much as I can from it. I didn’t really have any goals or anything like that,’ he explained.

During the show, viewers witnessed Dave become more confident and explore the emotional and physical aspects of intimacy with Kat 

He lost his virginity to Kat in the final episode and despite sharing such a big moment, hasn’t been in contact with her since leaving the island

Despite sharing several intimate moments with Kat, Dave revealed though he ‘did have some feelings for her’ they didn’t develop into anything deeper. Pictured: Dave and sexologist Danielle  

‘I think that’s something they they made sure we knew not to have specific goals for things, so that you don’t get disappointed, because everyone on that island has gained so much.

‘I think it’s important to see that, rather than to have goals in your head, that you can end up feeling a bit disappointed about not reaching.’

Having sexual intercourse is usually a private moment for most people, but some of the audio of Dave’s first time was broadcast to the world.

‘I never imagined that, you know, in my head, when I was going to lose my virginity, I thought it was going to be, like a really intimate moment. It was just going to be between me and like a really lovely woman,’ he said.

‘But now it’s between me and a really lovely woman and all of Channel Four’s viewers. It’s strange. It’s really strange. But I don’t think it’s a bad thing.’

Therapy sessions, confidence building activities, candid chats and some of the more intimate moments were all filmed and broadcast for viewers to watch.

Dave said he was ‘fine being recorded’ but did find the prospect of being filmed ‘a little bit scary initially’.

He revealed: ‘There was a point where, after one session, I just kind of detached, and I just kind of, you know, moved on from the cameras, moved past it and then was able to be a lot more natural. You get used to it.

Therapy sessions, confidence building activities, candid chats and some of the more intimate moments were all filmed and broadcast for viewers to watch

Dave said he was ‘fine being recorded’ but did find the prospect of being filmed ‘a little bit scary initially’

Dave now has a girlfriend and admitted he never thought he would be in an intimate relationship a year ago.

He shared: ‘I don’t think if you would have told me a year ago that I’m going to be in a position where I have a girlfriend, and we’re having a great life together, I would have just not believed whatsoever.’ 

As for the group of participants, Dave describes them as ‘amazing people’ and they are still in contact. Some have even met up and enjoyed nights out together since.

Virgin Island can be streamed on Channel4.com

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