Australia: Chaser wedding satire canceled after royal family interferes
A man poses covered in royal memorabilia on the street in central London on April 27, 2011.
Australia's national broadcaster was forced to cancel a show intended to be a satire of Friday's royal wedding ceremony and festivities after the British royal family expressed their displeasure.
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation was planning on using BBC's live feed of the much-anticipated wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton to create a mocking take on the events, AFP reports.
However, the show, called The Chaser's Royal Wedding Commentary, will not be going forward thanks to restrictions on the footage imposed by Clarence House, the private office of William's father Prince Charles, it states.
The Chaser is a comedy group that mocks celebrities and politicians.
"We're surprised and disappointed at this very late stage to be informed that any satirical or comedic treatment of the marriage of Australia's future head of state has been banned," ABC TV director Kim Dalton told AFP.
Chaser's Julian Morrow told Melbourne's The Age that the team will "appeal to the Monarch for a stay of execution."
Colleague Chris Taylor said: ''We've been taken off air before but never by the Queen herself. It's an honor.''
The article you just read is free because dedicated readers and listeners like you chose to support our nonprofit newsroom. Our team works tirelessly to ensure you hear the latest in international, human-centered reporting every weekday. But our work would not be possible without you. We need your help.
Make a gift today to help us reach our $25,000 goal and keep The World going strong. Every gift will get us one step closer.