This is bizarre...
ABC forced to pull Chaser wedding coverage

Just two days before Prince William and Kate Middleton are due to tie the knot, ABC TV has been forced to cancel The Chaser's one-off live coverage of the event due to what it says are restrictions imposed by the royal family.

The Chaser's Royal Wedding Commentary was due to air on ABC2 from 7:00pm AEST on Friday, offering viewers a satirical take on the royal wedding.

But now the live special - promised to be "uninformed and unconstitutional" - has been reluctantly pulled due to restrictions imposed over the Easter break.

ABC TV was initially advised by the BBC, and subsequently by Associated Press Television News (APTN), there were no coverage restrictions that would prevent The Chaser's wedding commentary.

But new conditions of use issued by APTN over the Easter break state footage cannot be used "in any drama, comedy, satirical or similar entertainment program or content".

ABC TV director Kim Dalton says he is disappointed.

"The national broadcaster has acted in good faith in its negotiations around ABC2's planned coverage with both the BBC and APTN," he said.

"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."

As late as this morning the BBC issued a new contract imposing additional restrictions on the use of its material.

"ABC TV had always planned to take the BBC's full coverage with commentary on ABC1, however, like other broadcasters, we thought Australians would appreciate an alternative take on this major event," Mr Dalton said.

"The Nine Network has Dame Edna giving her commentary and the Ten Network has the 7PM Project taking a light-hearted approach to the royal wedding.

"Our obvious choice for a light-hearted commentary is The Chaser team. Clearly, the BBC and Clarence House have decided The Chaser aren't acceptable."

The Chaser's Julian Morrow says the team accepts the ABC has been put in an "impossible position by people acting on behalf of the royal family".

"For a monarchy to be issuing decrees about how the media should cover them seems quite out of keeping with modern democratic times... but I suppose that's exactly what the monarchy is," he said.

"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."

Morrow says the move goes against free speech.

"It seems a bit crazy for the royal family to be trying to dictate the way they get represented in the media," he said.

"It seems a bit out of step with a modern democracy, but I suppose royalty is out of step with a modern democracy, so there you go."

The Chaser's Chris Taylor says it is an "honour" to be taken off air by the Queen herself.

The APTN advisory says the restrictions on the coverage of the wedding ceremony from Westminster Abbey have been agreed between Clarence House, the private office of the Prince of Wales, and the BBC.

According to the advisory, restrictions apply to the "period from the arrival of the first member of the royal family for the wedding service until the last member of the royal family leaves the main entrance of Westminster Abbey following the conclusion of the wedding service".

ABC1 will still be taking the BBC coverage of the wedding, including its commentary, and ABC News and ABC News 24's coverage will not be affected by the ban on ABC2 usage.