Art & Culture

Channel 4 is looking for adult virgins to take part in a new reality TV show

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant - 18th January 2024

Well, this is a bit different...

Another day, another reality show.

But this one is certainly something a little different as Channel 4 has revealed it’s currently casting for a new show that’s in the works, and is calling on adult virgins to come forward and take part.

The broadcaster has put out a casting call for brand-new show, which currently has the working title of ‘The Intimacy Retreat’, on it’s website, and applications are now open.

While not a great deal is known about the new show at this moment in time, what we do know is, judging by the brief synopsis of it released by the broadcaster, that participants will be whisked off to a not-yet-confirmed Mediterranean island retreat, and be guided along on a journey of intimacy.

Image: Universal Pictures

It’s probably fair to say it’ll follow along the lines of Love Island, First Dates, and other similar reality series we all know and love – but obviously, just with the twist that all of the participants will consider themselves to be ‘virgins’.

But what exactly is the reason for the new show being created? What made Channel 4 want to commission the new series? Well, it’s apparently all due to a recent study into intimacy.

According to this study, it’s because one in eight British 26-year-olds is currently a virgin.

The official casting call for the ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin? Or have you always struggled with intimacy? 

Image: The CW

“According to a recent study, one in eight British 26-year-olds is still a virgin. If YOU are aged 21 or over, and would like to be guided in the art of intimacy on a Mediterranean island retreat, you find more information and T&Cs, and apply online now.”

Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ are now open, and there’s still a good couple of weeks left to put your name down.

The deadline for applications is 25 February, and you can apply here.

Featured Image – Universal Pictures

Art & Culture

“What’s Love Got to Do with It?”: A Story of Survival at Leeds Grand Theatre

Declan Kelly Declan Kelly

An unflinching and empowering portrait of Tina Turner’s life.

Bringing the life of the Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll to the stage, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical arrives at the Leeds Grand Theatre with an energy that is both electrifying and deeply affecting. More than just a celebration of Tina Turner’s iconic career, this production offers a powerful portrayal of the hardship she endured and the extraordinary strength it took to overcome it.

While the musical is packed with well-known hits, it is the story behind them that leaves the greatest impact. From her early years to her rise to global stardom, the production lays bare the reality of Tina’s life, particularly the abuse and control she experienced at the hands of Ike.

These moments are handled with care but never softened, forcing the audience to confront the emotional and physical toll of her journey. It is this honesty that gives the show its real power this is not just a story of success, but one of survival.

Image: Supplied

A standout element of the production is the use of a younger Tina to show the early stages of her life and career. These scenes reveal her vulnerability, ambition, and the experiences that shaped her resilience, giving crucial context to her struggles with Ike and making her eventual empowerment all the more powerful. From hopeful, constrained performer to fiercely independent icon, her journey feels earned and deeply moving.

At the heart of the show is Elle Ma-Kinga N’Zuzi, whose portrayal of Tina is nothing short of extraordinary. She captures every facet of the performer from vulnerability to fierce determination allowing the audience to fully experience Tina’s lowest moments as well as her eventual rise.

Image: Supplied

Opposite her, David King-Yombo delivers a chilling performance as Ike, embodying the manipulation and control that defined their relationship. Their dynamic is deeply uncomfortable at times, but essential in highlighting the magnitude of Tina’s resilience.

Equally striking is the musical’s staging and visual storytelling, which mirrors Tina’s emotional journey. Intimate early-life moments and larger-than-life concert sequences are enhanced with lighting, set design, and choreography.

Iconic numbers such as “Disco Inferno,” “Proud Mary,” “What’s Love Got to Do with It,” and “Private Dancer” are brought to life with golden disco balls and soaring spotlights, celebrating her rise while reflecting her transformation from oppression to empowerment. These moments are met with overwhelming audience enthusiasm, making Tina’s struggles and triumphs feel immediate, immersive, and unforgettable.

Image: Supplied

The only area that felt slightly less polished was the stage combat. While the physical tension between Tina and Ike was effective in conveying conflict and control, some of the choreography occasionally felt a little uneven, which momentarily pulled focus from the emotional intensity of those scenes. Even so, these moments were brief and did little to diminish the overall impact of the production. 

By the final moments of the production, Tina prepares once more to take the stage, the narrative comes full circle the show ends the same way it began, with Tina getting ready for her gig. This framing is both thoughtful and powerful, giving the audience a moment to reflect on and celebrate the journey they have just witnessed.

Having experienced her struggles, triumphs, and transformation, the audience is invited to share in the exhilaration of her performance, turning the theatre into a concert-like celebration of resilience, empowerment, and music. As Tina herself, who worked on the production before her passing in 2023, described on opening night, the show is “poison turned into medicine.”

Ultimately, TINA: The Tina Turner Musical is a story of empowerment forged through adversity. For audiences at the Leeds Grand Theatre, this is more than a night at the theatre; it is an emotional, inspiring, and unforgettable tribute to a woman who refused to be defined by her past.

Running until 4 April. Tickets available now here.

Featured image - Supplied

Art & Culture

Adventurous people from Yorkshire needed to take part in next series of BBC’s Race Across the World

Emily Sergeant Emily Sergeant

Are you a fan of travelling? Got a bit of a competitive streak in your nature? Well, this might just be your calling then.

The BBC is, once again, casting for the next series of Race Across the World.

The BAFTA-winning hit show draws in thousands of viewers each week, and now producers are on the look-out for ‘intrepid duos’ of all ages who reckon they’re ready to take a step into the unknown, and embark on an epic race across land and sea for the next seried – and that includes Yorkshire residents.

With applications for the next series of the massively-popular show now open, nomadic people from Yorkshire are being encouraged to take part.

On a limited budget and away from the luxuries of modern technology and conveniences, those lucky applicants selected to take part in the next series will get the chance to experience life in some of the world’s most beautiful and remote locations.   

Race Across the World
Adventurous Mancs are needed to take part in the next series of Race Across the World / Credit: BBC

Navigating their way across thousands of miles, they’ll travel through spectacular scenery and dynamic cities, visit ancient wonders, learn local customs, and take part in time-honoured traditions. 

But, as producers are keen to point out, ‘the physical journey is only half of the story’. That’s because, as the contestants take on the challenge of travelling across the world, the greatest thing they’ll discover along the way could actually be about themselves and one another.

Putting out a UK-wide casting call on the BBC website this week, producers Studio Lambert wrote: “We are now accepting applications for the next series of Race Across the World. This experience is open to all, whether you’re a seasoned traveller or total novice.

“We want to hear what undertaking a trip like this would mean to you, and with a cash prize at stake, what lengths you would go to to win.”

    Fancy it then? Applications for the next series of Race Across the World are now open for anyone over 18 years of age, with a deadline date of 29 March 2026, and you can find out more information and apply via the BBC website.

    Stick your application form in here.

    Read more: Train ticket prices slashed by over 50% as huge rail sale returns across UK

    Featured Image – BBC

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