TV gets ready for the royal wedding

TV viewers will be able to see hours on hours of programming tied to this spring's royal wedding before Prince William and Kate Middleton even approach Westminster Abbey for their big day.

A Lifetime movie, a show that brings wedding fanatics from the United States to London and a TLC special on hoarders of royal memorabilia are all in the works. These run-up shows are in addition to the anticipated exhaustive coverage of the April 29 wedding itself by news programs.

BBC AMERICA: There's no surprise that BBC America, the American offshoot of the British Broadcasting Corp., would try to own the story in the weeks leading up to the nuptials. Its biggest push will be for "Royally Mad," a two-part series led by "So You Think You Can Dance" host Cat Deeley, which premieres April 12. The show finds four royal wedding fanatics who have never been out of the United States and takes them to London to visit people and places that play a part in the wedding story.

TLC'S PLANS: In the week leading up to the wedding, the TLC network will air a series of programs. One special will tell the story of India Hicks, who was one of Princess Diana's bridesmaids. She tells stories about what that day was like.

The special on extreme collecting of royal memorabilia is another highlight of TLC's programming plans. Archived footage and interviews with the royal family will be rolled out in separate shows.

A LIFETIME MOVIE: Lifetime, known for its signature romantic movies, has commissioned "William & Kate," airing on April 18. The movie chronicles their courtship, from the moment they met and when a friendship turned into romance, with the unique difficulties that go into dating a member of the royal family. Nico Evers-Swindell and Camilla Luddington portray the couple. (The Hallmark Channel last week announced its own Will-and-Kate TV movie, but that won't air until August.)

AND WEDDING CENTRAL, TOO: The tiny Wedding Central network, an offshoot of WE that is seen in only 3.5 million homes, has ordered a documentary it boldly calls "William & Kate: The Wedding of the Century." The special, the first piece of original programming the network has made, will talk to designers, cake makers, wedding planners and experts to hear their vision of the day.