Today is the first day of April, meaning many of us were caught unawares by April Fools’ stories, jokes and pranks this morning.
By tradition, pranks and jokes can be played until midday, before being revealed as an April Fool.
April Fools jokes that have since become infamous include a 1980 BBC report which claimed Big Ben was going digital and a segment on Panorama featuring women harvesting spaghetti from trees.
So how did this year’s crop of April Fools pranks compare?
Walkers bread-size crisps
Crisps brand Walkers was among the big names getting in on the joke, announcing they had designed a giant bread-size crisp.
The 11cm product would have solved the problem crisp sandwich problem of crumbs falling out the side of two slices of bread.
Pot Noodle Pizzas
On a similar, potentially delicious food theme, Pot Noodle and Papa Johns claimed it would be joining forces to create the Pot Pizza - a pizza with a Pot Noodle topping.
Tango’s takeaway drinks
Perhaps less appetising was Tango’s proposed new range of takeaway flavoured fizzy drinks, including Fizz and Chips, and Carbonated Chicken & Citrus Gravy.
The cans would have promised the “ultimate in tangy refreshment,” said the brand.
Aldi’s new airline
Supermarket Aldi announced its ambition to launch a budget airline AldiAir, which would take on Ryanair and easyJet.
The store revealed a logo containing the slogan ‘Specialflys since 2022’, a play on its famous Specialbuys aisle.
One Twitter user responded: “You’d do a better job”.
Skin implants for the gym
London gym chain Gymbox’s prank was more dystopian in nature, with the brand claiming it would offer under-skin implants for fitness fans to check into its facilities.
The device would also measure blood pressure changes, fluctuations in oxygen levels and calorie burn, it claimed.
Fashion pop-up in the Outer Hebrides
Meanwhile, menswear brand Universal Works, announced the unlikely news that it would be opening a pop-up shop in the island of North Uist in the Outer Hebrides.
Australia’s Zoo animals become police officers
We’re teaming up with @RobertIrwin and @AustraliaZoo to launch an elite new squad. Police Animals in the Wild (PAW) will add more eyes, ears, wings and claws to help keep Queensland safe 👀 🦅 🦔 pic.twitter.com/qYuwDNUTfL
— Queensland Police (@QldPolice) March 31, 2022
In Australia, Queensland Police told its 225,000 followers it was teaming up with Australia Zoo to create an “elite new squad”.
It said Police Animals in the Wild (Paw) would “add more eyes, ears, wings and claws” to keep the state safe, with the help of Robert Irwin.
After enjoying the Twitter responses the force came clean.
“Gotcha! As much as we love our @AustraliaZoo, @wildwarriors and wildlife friends, they are not our newest crime fighting critters #AprilFools,” the force said.
Spoof news stories
Newspapers also like to get in on the action when it comes to April Fools.
The Mirror told its readers that mud from the maligned Marble Arch Mound tourism attraction would be used to help rebuild Hadrian’s Wall.
It quoted the suspiciously-named ‘MP’, Mike Wrap as saying: “I know Londoners will be bitterly disappointed to be losing this iconic temporary structure that has been compared to the Eiffel Tower.”
Meanwhile, Wales Online reported that the Second River Severn Crossing, currently named after the Prince of Wales, would be renamed after Welsh footie star Gareth Bale.
