The Dutch reality TV show offering a kidney-transplant prize turns out to have been a fake.

Presenters say they wanted to pressure the government into reforming laws for organ donation.

The "Big Donor Show" featured a woman who said she was dying of a brain tumor and would donate a kidney to one of the three contestants. The three would-be recipients do, in fact, need transplants but are in on the hoax. The woman is an actress who is not dying of a brain tumor.

The program concept had led to widespread criticism for being tasteless and unethical.

The Netherlands' doctors association had called on members not to participate in the program, and questioned its authenticity.