Channel 4 bosses ‘are forced to backtrack and make a hilarious change to applications for their outrageous reality show Intimacy Retreat’

Channel 4 bosses have reportedly been forced to backtrack on requirements for their upcoming reality show Intimacy Retreat.

The broadcaster has struggled to find applicants for the show, and so have made a surprise change to applications.

Bosses have made the bizarre decision to no longer require applicants to be virgins, while still maintaining the premise of the show.

According to The Sun, would-be participators now need only identify as never having had sex to take part, in a desperate attempt by Channel 4 to get more people onboard.

The application now has a section for details of sexual exploits ‘if any’ and asks if applicants ‘consider’ themselves to be virgins.

Producers describe the show as ‘a six-part series that follows adults who are virgins (or identify as virgins) as they learn skills in the art of intimacy’.

The idea is that the contestants will naturally lose their virginity to one another, but if they are unsuccessful, sex surrogates are on hand to help.

An insider insisted: ‘It’s a bold social experiment, not anything raunchy.’ 

It was previously reported that hopefuls who apply for the series will lose their virginity on television with the help of sex experts.

Intimacy Retreat will see people jet off to a tropical island with one sole purpose.

They will be joined in the idyllic location by a camera crew and producers who hope the cast will pop each other’s cherries in front of the lens.

However, if they struggle and get stage fright, they will have specialists known as ‘sex surrogates‘ on hand to guide them.

A TV insider told The Sun: ‘There’s never been a TV show that pushes the boundaries quite like this — and probably never will be again.

‘The aim is to hopefully have all the virgins find each other attractive, but if that fails then this is the plan B.

‘These people are professionals who are constantly on hand for anything that may be required.’

Sex surrogates are experts when it comes to intimacy and medical professionals have been known to advise people seek help from them.

A session with a sex surrogate will start with a discussion about intimacy. It can then move on to touching and may even advance to other sexual activities.

Any psychological or physical issues that arise during the sessions will hopefully be overcome.

The show has not yet started filming but it is expected to air on Channel 4 later this year.

MailOnline has contacted Channel 4 for comment.