The contestants who participated in a reality show where the object of their affections was a pre-op transexual have consulted lawyers with a view to suing the programme's makers.

In the six-part series Find Me A Man - now renamed to There's Something About Miriam - six "lively and outgoing" men spent a fortnight trying to woo a "woman" called Miriam in a luxury villa in Ibiza. Unbeknownst to them, Miriam was actually born a man; a secret which was kept from them until the end of the show.

According to The Sun today, the group of lads have hired celebrity law firm Schillings to sue Sky and the show's production company Brighter Pictures for conspiracy to commit a sexual assault, claiming that they were both kissed and fondled by Miriam during the two-week period.

They are also planning to sue for defamation, breach of contract and personal injury.

As reported yesterday, each of the contestants signed eight-page legal documents before filming began allowing Sky to broadcast the footage from the show.

A Sky source told the newspaper that the men found out the truth about Miriam after she lifted up her skirt and revealed her penis.

“The men had no idea that Miriam was a transsexual," the source said. “They are horrified because there are shots of them snogging, cuddling and groping her. At the end of the show she sat them down and told them, ‘I’ve got something to show you’, then lifted up her skirt. One lad was so outraged he hit the producer in the face. It’s the cruellest reality show yet.???

Presented by Tim Vincent, There's Something About Miriam is due to begin November 16 at 9pm on Sky One.