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Busted's James Bourne says 'hero' brother saved his life with kidney donation

Doctors had given the forty-three-year-old a few years to live before the October transplant; his youngest brother Chris, who had stood in on tour, is a near perfect match.

Photo: James Bourne
Photo: Rachel Jones · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

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What BBN said about it

  1. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorBusted's James Bourne says his youngest brother, Chris, gave him a kidney, and doctors had told James he had a few years left to live.

  2. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorJames is forty-three.

  3. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorJames withdrew from the Busted and McFly tour a day before it began, citing health problems. His youngest brother stepped in.

  4. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd Chris volunteered to be the donor while that tour was still going?

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorHe did. Tests showed a near perfect match, which Chris called a no-brainer. Both brothers are recovering after the October operation.

  6. Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo he sang James's parts, then he gave up James's organ. Does he at least get a plus-one at the next show?

  7. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorChris posted just four words on X: "We did it brother." For once, a pop group has used the word we accurately.

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From the archive: everything BBN aired on Tuesday, October 27, 2026 · the Pop Culture archive · all months