It’s the one day a year you can’t trust anything you read – April Fools’ Day.
Pranks from brands, celebrities and even friends and family will flood the internet on Saturday, as people desperately try to catch each other out before noon.
Some rather astonishing claims have fooled thousands in the past – from a 1980 report from the BBC that Big Ben was to go digital, to a newscaster announcing the Space Needle in Seattle had fallen down.
Others were more low-brow, such as supermarket Aldi claiming it would be launching its own budget airline to compete with the likes of RyanAir.
Below, FEMAIL rounds up some of the best – and worst – pranks we’ve seen.
Would any of them have fooled you?
Big Ben goes digital
One of the UK’s most notable April Fools’ Day jokes took place in 1980, when the BBC reported that the Big Ben clocktower in central London would be turning digital.
Listeners were, surprisingly, rather angry about the reported change. ‘Few people thought it was funny,’ the broadcaster said at the time.
One of the UK’s most notable April Fools’ Day jokes took place in 1980, when the BBC reported that the Big Ben clocktower in central London would be turning digital. Pictured: Stock image
The Swiss spaghetti harvest
Believed to be one of the first televised April Fools’ Day pranks, the BBC’s Panorama broadcast a report in 1957 about the year’s ‘bumper’ spaghetti crop in Switzerland.
The clip was narrated by journalist Richard Dimbleby, and led to viewers writing to the broadcaster asking how they could buy their very own spaghetti bush.
Believed to be one of the first televised April Fools’ Day pranks, the BBC’s Panorama broadcast a report in 1957 about the year’s ‘bumper’ spaghetti crop in Switzerland
Animals join Australia’s police force
This one is a modern classic. Last year, conservationist Robert Irwin of Australia Zoo announced he would be leading a ‘new crime squad’ called Police Animals in the Wild – or PAW.
Of course, Queensland Police later followed up that it was a joke: ‘Gotcha! As much as we love our Australia Zoo… they are not our newest crime fighting critters #AprilFools’.
Conservationist Robert Irwin of Australia Zoo announced he would be leading a ‘new crime squad’ called Police Animals in the Wild – or PAW. Of course, Queensland Police later followed up that it was a joke: ‘Gotcha! As much as we love our Australia Zoo… they are not our newest crime fighting critters #AprilFools’
Space Needle falls down
In 1989, KING-TV reported that the Space Needle in Seattle had fallen down. But many people fell for it, causing somewhat of a panic in the US city on April 1.
It turned out that local comedy show Almost Live! was behind the joke, but not everyone saw the funny side straight away.
In 1989, KING-TV reported that the Space Needle in Seattle had fallen down. But many people fell for it, causing somewhat of a panic in the US city on April 1
Ant and Dec launch cryptocurrency
Last year, British TV veterans Ant and Dec had some people convinced they had launched their very own cryptocurrency – Toon Coin.
They said: ‘Big news! We have joined the crypto revolution and launched Toon Coin.’
Last year, British TV veterans Ant and Dec had some people convinced they had launched their very own cryptocurrency – Toon Coin
Krispy Kreme’s amusement park
The much-loved doughnut brand once claimed it was launching a Krispy Kreme theme park – to the delight of hundreds of fans.
However, it later confirmed that the whole thing was simply a dream.
The much-loved doughnut brand once claimed it was launching a Krispy Kreme theme park – to the delight of hundreds of fans
eHarmony can match you with magnetism
In 2017, dating website eHarmony announced it would launch its most powerful feature to date – matching people through magnetism. Of course, this was only a prank.
‘The feature will bring a whole new meaning to the laws of attraction, quite literally dragging you and your perfect match together in the real world, by turning your eHarmony app on your phone into an incredibly strong magnet,’ it claimed at the time.
In 2017, dating website eHarmony announced it would launch its most powerful feature to date – matching people through magnetism. Of course, this was only a prank
Virgin Atlantic’s first dog-only crew
Virgin Atlantic Australia once announced on April 1 that its first ever Canine Crew would be gracing its planes – to the excitement of many animal lovers.
The accompanying photographs were delightful but, sadly, it was only a prank.
Virgin Atlantic Australia once announced on April 1 that its first ever Canine Crew would be gracing its planes – to the excitement of many animal lovers
Aldi launches budget airline
Another one from last year. Budget supermarket Aldi announced on 1 April that it would be launching its very own airline – AldiAir.
‘Specialflys since 2022’, it said, a play on its Specialbuys in the beloved Middle Aisle.
Another one from last year. Budget supermarket Aldi announced on 1 April that it would be launching its very own airline – AldiAir
Under-skin implants for GymBox members
In a rather dystopian take on the April Fools’ Day joke, London-based gym GymBox claimed it would be offering members under-skin implants to enter their locations.
It even shared photographs alleging to show the mechanism in action.
In a rather dystopian take on the April Fools’ Day joke, London-based gym GymBox claimed it would be offering members under-skin implants to enter their locations
Left-handed toilet paper
American toilet paper brand Cottonelle announced in 2015 that it would be launching a product specifically made for left-handed people.
It, of course, looked just like any other paper – and was a less successful joke.
American toilet paper brand Cottonelle announced in 2015 that it would be launching a product specifically made for left-handed people