On April 1 each year, countless unwitting people worldwide fall victim to a slew of pranks and jokes.
While there is some dispute over the origins of April Fools Day, the comedic annual event has stood the test of time as the perfect way to share humour.
April Fools Day is now over, meaning the ads and news articles you read today are true. But did you see something yesterday that may not have been?
Here’s our roundup of the best pranks that we spotted.
1. Aldi’s new ice cream flavour
Aldi’s marketing team are pretty on it when it comes to humour. Over the years, they’ve shared some impressive puns and jokes on social media, often at the behest of their retail competitors.
This year, Aldi Scotland wanted to prank their customers by advertising a new product that came with a questionable flavour.
“Fancy trying something different for dessert? Our new Scottish Haggis Ice Cream is absolutely banging! Made with local Scottish Double Cream and Specially Selected Chieftain Haggis, it's sure tae put a wee pep(per) in yer step!” they wrote on social media.
‘Haggis-Dazs’ was the brand’s innovative spin on a luxury ice cream classic. Of course, it was all a joke, but some followers almost fell for it.
“Aye right.. I nearly fell for that,” wrote one, while another follower added: “The best April fools yet.”
2. EasyJet’s summer rebrand
EasyJet also showed off its funny side, revealing a complete rebrand of EasyJet Holiday. For one day only, it was renamed Holibobs.
A spokesperson for the brand said: “Holibobs are for everyone to enjoy and easyJet Holibobs is here to help everyone achieve the holibob of their dreams.
“Whether you’re looking for a Summer holibob with your huns, a Chrimbo holibob with the hubby and famalam or a spring holibob with BAE – we have just the holibob to make your friends jelly. Amazeballs!”
3. Dulux scratch and sniff collection
Introducing our brand new limited edition scented paint range - your walls have never smelt so good! 🍫
— Dulux UK | Colour & Inspiration (@duluxuk) April 1, 2024
From Hazelnut Truffle to Caramel Cream, these Easter inspired scents will delight your senses this bank holiday! #AFD pic.twitter.com/uwxqhKaYPl
This year, Dulux dropped a Willy Wonka meets Grand Designs-esque avert with a new collection of sweet-smelling paints.
In this day and age, it’s all about immersive experiences for our senses. So, it’s not unrealistic to imagine the paint brand Dulux releasing a new range of paints giving off aromas of hazelnut and caramel.
3. Currys selling curries
Wouldn’t you agree that it’s about time this retailer lived up to their name? Well, for April Fools Day this year, they did.
“You asked and we always deliver… introducing Curries for Tech,” they wrote on social media alongside an image of a curry stand outside one of their stores. “We’ve cooked up something special, allowing you to swap tech for tikka! Bring in your old, unwanted tech and swap it for a FREE curry and a £5 Cash for Trash voucher to put towards your next purchase.”
Currys Brand and Marketing Director Dan Rubel added: “Many customers come to us looking confused and asking for a curry, but Lamb Rogan Josh lovers and Chicken Faal fans often leave empty-handed.
“We decided enough is enough of feeling like the fool so we are trialling our Curries for Tech scheme, allowing shoppers to help save e-waste from landfill whilst also getting their curry kick for free, at Currys.”
4. Leon turns to dental care
Leon’s tasty aioli sauce is iconic—so much so that the brand decided to make it into toothpaste this year. Nothing beats garlic breath, after all. Alongside its recognizable branding, Leon shared a video of its staff showing off their pearly whites.
“Switching up your classic minty flavour for something tangy, creamy, and with extra BITE. Our new toothpaste is a breath-taking cavity fighter that will leave you with the taste of garlic allllllll day long. Taking inspiration from our new and improved aioli recipe, this toothpaste includes real garlic, a hint of roasted garlic, and is creamier than ever,” they wrote. While their followers may not have been too keen on the toothpaste, they did like the idea of buying garlic cause in a tube.
5. Alison Hammond pranked on This Morning
The highlight of daytime television yesterday was certainly Alison Hammond’s reaction to one of her guests having their dreams ‘shattered’ live.
During the segment, Alison and Dermot O’Leary welcomed a guest who appeared to have bought a £1.50 vase only to discover it was actually worth thousands.
Things didn’t quite go as planned, leaving Hammond in complete disbelief. They really had her fooled.
