The Riots: In Their Own Words was due to air on BBC Two at 9pm last night (July 16), featuring actors reconstructing the disruption and unrest that hit London and other English cities last August.
To produce the two-part series, programme makers gathered interviews with more than 270 people involved in the riots and expert testimony from The Guardian and London School of Economics to re-enact the events.
Alongside the dramatic reconstructions, the series was also expected to show some never-seen-before footage of the riots.
In a statement last night, the BBC declined to comment on the nature of the court order against the programme, or which judge had issued the ruling.
"A court order has been made that has prevented the BBC from broadcasting the programme The Riots: In Their Own Words tonight. We will put it out at a later date," the BBC said.
Instead of the drama-documentary, BBC Two showed a repeat of Operation Crossbow, a documentary on the use of 3D photographs in World War II to reveal the Nazis' advanced military technology.
For the first episode of The Riots: In Their Own Words, playwright Alecky Blythe reinterpreted confidential interviews conducted as part of the Reading the Riots study to produce a script for the actors.
The second instalment features interviews with police officers who were on the streets during the disorder. It is unclear whether this programme is also covered by the court order.
