One of the therapists on Channel 4 series Virgin Island has lifted the lid on what really went on behind the scenes of the hit show.
Joy Rigel – who’s told Entertainment Daily she’s considering not returning for the second series – joined the Channel 4 show as an emotional intimacy coach. Trained as a surrogate partner, Joy decided against appearing on the show in that capacity because she felt it would be “too much”.
Now, speaking exclusively to ED!, Joy has revealed what really happened when Virgin Island star Jason climaxed during one of their sessions; how she defied producers’ orders by staying in touch with two of the participants; and why she’s upset at producers for only focusing on the physical aspect of her work…
Virgin Island therapist ‘nervous’ about signing up for Channel 4 show
Joy said Virgin Island producers got in touch with her and asked her to be one of the surrogate partners on the show. Surrogate partners do everything an actual partner would do in terms of intimacy, including full penetrative sex. On the show, only one of the participants lost their virginity with a surrogate partner – scenes which were blasted by many viewers.
And it’s something Joy was really wary of when it came to signing up. “I was nervous about it because being a surrogate is very misunderstood. And a lot of people just can’t do it,” she said. “I ended up not going on as a surrogate because I just felt like it would be too much.”
Joy added that she’s actually stopped working as a sex surrogate now because she found that “when people feel sex is possibly on the table, it closes the potential for an emotional connection”.
“As soon as the idea that sex is on table, it changes the energy,” she said. “But if we just take sex off the table, something really beautiful opens up. And that is what I did with Virgin Island and the participants.”
‘We weren’t even kissing when he climaxed’
During the two-week show – which was filmed in Croatia – Joy helped participants Jason and Ben overcome their intimacy issues.
In one memorable moment, Joy was working with Jason when he climaxed. “With Jason, we weren’t even kissing when he climaxed,” she explained.
I touched his chest close to his heart and that’s when he climaxed.
“Jason was really good at staying connected, where he was meeting my attention and staying in that attention. It was like we were being moved. We weren’t kissing and I wasn’t grinding [when he climaxed] – no physical, erotic thing happened. I touched his chest close to his heart and that’s when he climaxed,” she shared.
Joy added: “I asked why they cut that part out, and the producer said: ‘We didn’t actually cut it out. The electronic equipment failed.’ And I’ve had that happen before actually, during these big energy moments.”
‘My work got cut and we didn’t get a lot from the show’
Joy then revealed that she had hoped the producers would show more of the non-physical side of her work when the series aired.
“I wish that they [the producers] weren’t focussed on certain things, just for the benefit of the whole public. Like, my work got cut out and just the physical side of things was shown. I’m grateful for that, but as far as the other therapists, we’re all kind of like: ‘Well, we didn’t get a lot from the show. Our businesses didn’t grow, we didn’t get a lot of publicity.’
“It’s just a shame that it wasn’t highlighted. I have had a talk about coming back for series 2 but I’m not sure. You give a lot of yourself to do that sort of thing and I don’t have creative rights, so I’m thinking about it.”
Joy also said that she was “nervous” about signing up for the show initially. “It’s incredibly intimate. I was thinking about my family – I thought a lot about my mum watching it, to be honest,” she giggled.
“But also, I’m really working to change some ways of thinking. People are so hyper focussed on the fact that I was a surrogate and I worry they won’t be able to take me seriously. Even the work that I did on the show, you know, they highlighted very specific parts, the physical parts. They didn’t show the deeper aspect to the frameworks that I really feel they needed to offer here.”
Strict rule broken
When the series ended, Virgin Island participant Dave revealed that they had been told there would be no contact with the therapists after filming wrapped. However, Joy has stayed in touch with Jason and fellow participant Ben.
“If I was a surrogate it would be a therapy no-no, but I did feel like I needed to follow up as a professional to see how they’re doing. The producers were like: ‘No, no, no, we’ve got this all under control.’ But I wanted to follow up with Jason and Ben and just see how they were doing.
“They said they were doing really great. They were very thankful. We comment on each other’s things on Instagram. But I wouldn’t become friendly – there’s a proper line that can’t be crossed,” she said.
Channel 4 star who ‘had a lot of issues’
Speaking about Jason, Joy shared her pride over his journey on the show. “I worked with Jason, so I would say I’m so proud of him. But they all really did a great turnaround,” she said.
In terms of who had the biggest breakthrough, Joy said it was “hard to pick”. However, she then named Ben. And said that he “had a lot of issues”.
She explained: “He couldn’t hug. He couldn’t touch. And that could make you feel like you’re really broken. Part of the reason I love my work so much is because to be able to give someone that awakening, that opening to themselves, it’s such an honour.
“No one’s taught to have sex. People are watching porn and coming to these horrible conclusions about a woman’s arousal pattern. So I think we really did open some eyes and suggest that we really need to have these conversations to demystify sex.”
For now, with her participation in series 2 up in the air, Joy is focusing on helping those who feel disconnected – “from their bodies, their relationships, their own aliveness”. She added: “Whether through somatic coaching, energy work or conscious intimacy practices, I guide people back to the wisdom of their bodies and the art of feeling.”
You can find out more on Joy’s website here. Virgin Island is currently casting for series 2.
Read more: All the things you didn’t see on screen on Virgin Island – from boozy wrap party to show reunion
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