A controversial Dutch reality TV programme featuring a dying woman choosing a patient to receive her kidneys has been unveiled as a hoax. Producers revealed the potential donor - a woman known as Lisa - was an actress and not in fact dying of a brain tumour as had been claimed.

By Tamar Lewin There was plenty of outrage last week when a Dutch television network said that it would broadcast a "reality" show featuring three patients competing for a kidney to be donated by a terminally ill woman.

A DUTCH television show in which a terminally ill woman would supposedly donate her kidney to one of three contestants was revealed as a hoax last night.

By Toby Sterling Associated Press AMSTERDAM, Netherlands -- A television show in which a woman would donate a kidney to a contestant was revealed as a hoax Friday, with presenters saying they were trying to pressure the government into reforming organ donation laws.

A TV show in which unwell contestants vied for a dying woman's kidney was yesterday revealed as a hoax. Makers of Holland's The Big Donorshow claimed they merely wanted to highlight the country's organ donor shortage. The three contestants - real kidney patients - were in on the spoof.