Ourtage over Chaser show

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has slammed a comedy programme for a sketch about terminally ill children.

The Chaser\'s War On Everything sparked a storm of protest over a scene about a fictional ‘Make-a-Realistic-Wish Foundation’ which berated patients for making ‘selfish’ and ‘extravagant’ wishes as they were ‘only going to die anyway’.

Broadcaster ABC was forced to issue an apology, and said it will edit the segment out of repeat and online screenings of the show, which is more famous for outrageous stunts.

Rudd said: ‘I actually don\'t mind The Chaser taking the mickey out of me or any other politician at any time or any place, that\'s fine, that\'s fair game. But having a go at kids with a terminal illness is really beyond the pale, absolutely beyond the pale.

‘These guys collectively should get up and hang their heads in shame, it\'s just wrong.’

The ABC said: ‘We acknowledge the distress this segment has caused and we apologise to anyone we have upset.’

The controversial scene is here, five minutes in:

Published: 4 Jun 2009