Dutch kidney donor reality TV show was a hoax - Update

A Dutch reality TV show in which a woman had to decide which one of three contestants she would donate a kidney to has been revealed to be a hoax.

The woman, who was initially identified as 'Lisa', and said to be suffering from a brain tumour, was revealed to be a healthy actress one hour into The Big Donor Show.



The three contestants on the programme are genuinely in need of kidney transplants. However, all three agreed to take part with the knowledge beforehand that the programme was a hoax.

The initial premise of the programme was that the terminally-ill donor would decide which of the three candidates would be eligible to receive a kidney transplant, basing her selection on the person's history and conversations with the candidates' families and friends.

The show, which the makers BNN had said was intended to focus on the shortage of donor organs in the Netherlands, was condemned by Dutch prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende before transmission and sparked worldwide controversy.