Outrage At \'Big Brother\' Kidney Show and World falls for Endemol hoax (merged)
 

From Sky News

A reality game show by the makers of Big Brother will this week see a terminally ill woman select a recipient for her kidneys.

The programme, to be shown in the Netherlands on Friday, has caused outrage among health campaigners and politicians.

They say The Big Donor Show, made by Dutch company Endemol, represents a new low in reality TV and should not be shown.

However, the makers have defended the show, saying it is meant to highlight the difficulty of obtaining a kidney donor.

It is the latest row over reality shows. Channel 4 has been rapped by the broadcasting watchdog Ofcom over the racist bullying in the last series of Celebrity Big Brother.

Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf said The Big Donor Show, on channel BNN, would see a dying 37-year-old woman - identified only as Lisa - choose from three people with kidney problems.

She will make her choice based on the contestants' history, profile and conversations with their families and friends.

Viewers will be able to send text messages advising her during the 80-minute show.

BNN chairman Laurens Drillich said: "The chance for a kidney for the contestants is 33%.

Show to be debated in Dutch parliament"This is much higher than that for people on a waiting list. You would expect it to be better but it is worse."

Reiner Hofmann, spokesman for the Dutch Transplant Foundation, said the show was "a scandal".

He told The Sun newspaper: "It is no better than selling organs - they are taking advantage of people in a desperate situation for entertainment."

Members of the ruling coalition parties the Christian Democrats and the conservative Christian Union have called the show "wretched" and unethical. The programme is set to be debated in the Dutch parliament this week.

BNN says it wants to highlight the difficulties faced by kidney sufferers in getting donor organs as a tribute to BNN founder Bart de Graaff, who died of kidney failure five years ago, despite several transplants.

The show is reportedly the idea of Endemol founder John de Mol.

I personally find it all a bit sick.

Me too.... thats just going too far

This has to be a joke, its Sick.

I thought it was a joke when I first read it.

World falls for Endemol hoax
 

It was a sick idea in the first place...

Thanks god its a hoax

I know. What a travesty it would have been if it wasn't.

Sweet, that was a nice idea by Endemol. Hope some good comes from it.

That is so pathetic. Do Endemol just want to cause controversy?

I am glad it was not actually a real show, how awful would that have been

I think the way it was advertised was just to get viewing figures. How low can they go?

That idea was just sick. I mean donating a body part on LIVE tv, I don't even want to think about it!

Its worse that it was a fake show, its horrible

I don't really understand how it was worse being a fake show?? They have highlighted what appears to be a problem in the Netherlands (while obviously getting some publicity for themselves as well.) If they can highlight an issue and some good comes from it, then well done Endemol!

Well we'll need to wait and see if good comes from it!