Big Donor is Big Fake
From the people behind Big Brother came The Big Donor Show in which three contestants tried to win the kidney they so desperately needed. Viewers, politicians and the media were shocked that a reality show with such a premise could be broadcasted but now it appears that the whole thing was a hoax. A hoax that the producers hoped would highlight the desperate need for donor organs in the Netherlands.
There had been a growing suspicion that all was not as it seemed with ‘The Big Donor Show’. Industry insiders hinted that BNN and Endemol would have been crazy to air such a show.
But for 60 minutes it looked like they would. It was only when ‘Lisa’ the ‘donor’ had to evict a would-be recipient that the gag was revealed.
The three contestants really did need the organ but were happy to play along in the cause of raising awareness of the shortage of donor organs.
“We would never have made this programme for real,” said Endemol’s Paul Romer. “I hope people’s indignation about a TV show turns to indignation about the waiting list for a donor organ.”
The show may have worked as the producers had intended as they claim that 12,000 people texted during the show to enquire about becoming an organ donor.
Reference for posting: http://news.sky.com
