'Chaser' royal wedding show banned

An Australian TV show that takes a satirical look at the royal wedding has been banned.

The programme, which was to be hosted by the same controversial comedy group that made The Chaser's War On Everything, was axed after the BBC threatened to ban The ABC from accessing any footage of Prince William and Kate Middleton's nuptials.

The ABC's director of television Kim Dalton told the Sydney Morning Herald: "'In Australia we're not used to these sorts of conditions being placed on the media and you can't help but observe these restrictions are being placed on the media on behalf of a future head of state of Australia."

A BBC spokesperson said: ''It has always been made clear by the BBC that use of its basic live news feed and BBC One programming for comedy, satirical or similar entertainment purposes would not be permitted contractually.''

Chaser member Julian Morrow added: "'We thought it was a good call from the ABC to back the project but pressures are being brought to bear from relatively high places.

"[It's] traditional for the condemned to appeal to the monarch for a stay of execution, so that's what we're going to do. Unfortunately, it's also traditional for people who appeal for clemency to be executed."

It is believed that Clarence House put in the request to the BBC after the Chaser team announced their plans for the show last week.

Morrow and his teammates came under fire last year for scaling a church spire during a service which then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was attending to mark the death of an Australian soldier in Afghanistan.