Host Jan Böhmermann claimed his team had used digital editing software to insert the indecent gesture. Then it showed another clip it said was the original, in which Mr Varoufakis made the same remarks but without the gesture. A regretful Mr Böhmermann told his audience they were behind the "fake" Stinkefinger footage.

"Sorry Mr Varoufakis, we won't do it again," he said

It didn't take long, however, until the fake was itself revealed as a fake.

The original footage of the event does appear to show Mr Varoufakis showing the Stinkefinger. The finger-free "original" as shown on Neo Magazin Royale was, in fact, the doctored one. Still following?