Kidney Donor Reality Tv Show a Hoax

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 program makers have said tonight.

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

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

The initial premise of the program 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.

Callers to a local radio station had suggested that the show could be a hoax by the Dutch public broadcaster BNN to build up its ratings.