Cabin fever 'will return to airwaves'

The producers of the reality television show brought to a halt by the sinking of its ship tonight said they were optimistic it would return to the airwaves.

Six of the original 10 contestants have agreed to continue with Cabin Fever, and two more would join if it was resumed.

A new ship is on its way from Dartmouth to Ireland to replace the original one, which ran aground earlier this month.

Cabin Fever had been on air for less than a week when the tall ship taking contestants around Ireland hit rocks.

Despite attempts to save the boat it broke up and passengers were taken to nearby Tory Island, before being returned to their homes.

Tonight Coco Productions and state broadcaster RTE said they were confident Cabin Fever would resume – depending on the result of an investigation into the accident.

Executive producer Julian Vignoles said: “We are optimistic that the series can resume soon.

“We cannot say when, but we are waiting for the department of marine to inspect the boat.”

Coco Productions said it would apply to the Department of the Marine for a passenger licence before restarting the show.

The department is currently investigating the sinking of the ship and said no new licence would be issued until the cause was established.

Cabin Fever began with 10 contestants competing for a €100,000 prize.

The ship was due to sail to a number of coastal locations during the eight-week show, including Bangor, Sligo, Galway, Limerick, Cobh and Dublin.

Every week a contestant was to be evicted from the boat.