Attempts to relaunch 'Cabin Fever' continue despite legal action threat

Coco Television, whose reality TV series Cabin Fever was suspended after the boat involved sank off Tory Island on June 13th, …

Coco Television, whose reality TV series Cabin Fever was suspended after the boat involved sank off Tory Island on June 13th, is still attempting to relaunch the series.

Negotiations between the television company and the contestants are to continue this week, despite the threat of legal action from some crew members against the British owners of the boat.

Contestants who were on the boat as it struck rocks and sank were said to be extremely traumatised by the affair. Cabin Fever participants were reportedly offered €1,000 to cover the loss of their personal belongings which went down with the boat.

The only other financial incentive understood to remain for them to continue with the show is the €100,000 prize money for the winning contestant.

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A new series in a new boat, taking up where the old boat sank off Tory Island, would also need the agreement of the series broadcaster, RTÉ.

Yesterday one Sunday newspaper reported that several of the crew had already refused to take part in any such relaunch.

The newspaper also claimed that a salvage expert was shocked by the condition of the remains of the 56-year-old French schooner. He was quoted as saying: "I examined the lower part of the ship's timber, and it was in a very poor condition, soft and rotten".

Neither RTÉ nor Coco Television was available for comment last night. The Cabin Fever page on RTÉ's website reported: "Coco Productions and RTÉ will now review available options, in consultation with the nine contestants, before making a decision as to the future of the television series".

The programme's voting lines have been suspended, and all the money raised during the week the boat sank is to go to the rescue services.

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien

Tim O'Brien is an Irish Times journalist