Aprils Fools Day is a bit like marmite, in that, you either love it or absolutely despise it - and your opinion on the annual celebration is usually influenced by being a trick-er or a trick-ee.
You may well have been stung in the past with popular falsities and pranks come April 1, such as the bogus unexpected pregnancy of a partner or a booby-trapped home - or maybe you've been duped by a popular brand announcing its closure, only to read the date and realise you've been had.
Some people go the extra mile on April Fools Day though, and a number of A-List celebrities with a hankering for humour are among those with the biggest and best pranks.
Read more: Why do we prank people on April Fools' Day and when did it start?
So here, Chronicle Live takes a look at some of the familiar local faces and their most hilarious and convincing jokes over the years - as well as those a little further afield with hilarious antics on the first of April.
Ant & Dec - The Big Rebrand
Back in April 2021, comedy duo Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly made their followers uncomfortable by announcing a big rebrand - and it felt so, so wrong. Taking to Twitter, the official Ant and Dec account revealed that the Geordie pair would from that day on be going by Dec and Ant, leaving followers in hysterics.
On the site, the account penned: "Some big news for you guys... after 30 long years together we’ve decided a change is needed, and so without further ado, we can announce we’ll now be officially known as Dec & Ant. It’s only fair on the little guy x #DecAndAnt."
They also attached photos with comments from both Ant and Dec. Dec's read: "I'm over the moon. We agreed back in the Byker days that he'd take the first 30 years and I'd take the rest...it's really the only reason I've been handing around with him for this long."
Ant, added: "I've had a good run, but it's time to hand over the reins. Hopefully this step back will give me more time to focus on some of my neglected hobbies...such as stamp collecting and medieval battle re-enactments."
And while the majority saw straight through the pair's guise, some admitted that they had them in the first half. One, wrote: "When I tell you my heart rate dropped whilst reading the first half of that caption. Then remembered the date, maybe next time try fainting again," while another, added: "Noooooo you will always be ant and dec x dec and ant just sounds strange you both have the same effect on the public but fair play dec and ant you are both so brilliant.
"Love Saturday night takeaway sometimes it makes me laugh sometimes it makes me cry x."
Imagine a world where it actually was Dec and Ant?...eurgh.
Cheryl joins Geordie Shore
Speaking of Geordies, remember when MTV tried to convince us all that Cheryl would be joining their hit show Geordie Shore? In a great ploy in 2012, producers reported that Cheryl would be joining the likes of Charlotte Crosby and Gary Beadle for the tenth season of the show - and people lapped it up, despite the date.
One wrote: "Cheryl cole is joining geordie shore #wtfffffff," while, another, added: "Will Cheryl be joining them in the Geordie Shore house now...?"
Do you think Cheryl would have made a good housemate? Let us know in the comments!
Vicky Pattison as Kim Kardashian's personal trainer
On the note of Geordie Shore, Vicky Pattison once had the world on strings when it was announced that the reality-Tv star would be swapping Wallsend for the West Coast of America to help Kim Kardashian stay fit. The loveable celebrity teamed up with The Mirror back in 2015 to sell the dream that she was jetting off to LA to be Kim K's personal trainer.
In the bogus article, Vicky was said to have told the publication: ""I met Kim and Kanye when they were in London for the Brits last month. Our managers know each other so they introduced us and we got talking about fitness.
"I was telling her about my workout DVD and nutritional products and Kim was well excited about it. She asked me there and then if I'd be up for going over to LA and training her myself."
It's not exactly the most out there of stories really, with both celebrities working in the reality-TV world at the time - and it certainly turned a couple of heads.
Sting walks on the moon
Many of you will be familiar with The Police and their 1979 hit Walking on the Moon. But do you remember when Chronicle Live tried their own hand at an audacious April Fools trick relating to it?
Back in 2004, we revealed that Wallsend-born frontman Sting (real name Gordon Sumner) would be performing the classic track live from the lunar surface to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Neil Armstrong's famous feat. We're not too sure it convinced anyone though...
Maybe we'll try it again with Elton John and his Rocket Man song in a couple of years time.
James Corden unveils David Beckham statue
Funny man James Cordon had David Beckham on strings back in 2019, unveiling a 'hideous' bronze statue of the former Manchester United and England footballing legend. Although there is in fact a real sculpture of Becks outside LA Galaxy's ground, Corden played with the superstar before it had been unveiled to the public - with a fake statue of his own.
The statue was described as 'hideous' and a 'monstrosity' by fans around the world when it was unveiled on the Late Late Show, with David looking less than impressed when the curtain had dropped. At the time, David said: "It's slightly different to what it was when I saw it in Chicago though."
He added: "Yeah but when we spoke in Chicago, there was 'catch me in motion also making me...' I mean look at my chin. It doesn't really look nothing like me though, look at my eyes. You know what? The only thing that looks good is the hair and that's about it."
He later saw the funny side of things, when James Corden showed up with a camera crew to reveal it was all a prank, exclaiming: "Thank God for that," sporting a massive grin.
Tom Hardy teases he's the next James Bond
Tom Hardy over the past couple of years has been teased to take over the role of James Bond once Daniel Craig decides to hang up the black tux and all of the bells and whistles that come with the role. And back in April 2018 it was announced - via an April Fools joke - that Tom would be taking over the role.
And showing his comedic side, Tom took to Instagram later to further suggest the statement - tricking many fans of the movie franchise into believing it was finally happening. In a post, he wrote: "Dammit I was in my tux and on the runway Gtg no drama GB RTB headed back to NOLA stood down 19."
The internet quickly responded to the announcement, with many taking to Twitter to express their delight. One wrote: "Just heard news that Daniel Craig's quit as James bond and Tom hardy is new bond don't know whether it's true or just April fools joke not sure if i should believe this news need confirmation #confused."
Once it was dismissed as an April Fools prank, others were left disheartened. One said: "Whoever thought it was funny to play with my emotions and write an article on how tom Hardy is the new James Bond is a sick sick person. Got all excited to realise it was an April fools," while another, added: 1) April 1st 2) Tom Hardy is the new James Bond 3) Awesome! 4) That was a bad thing to joke about."
We would see Tom as more of a Bond villain, wouldn't you agree?
What's the most convincing April Fools Day prank you've been had by? Let us know in the comments.
Read next:
- Ant and Dec's April Fool's Day prank goes viral - and gives some fans a 'mini heart attack'
- Stephen Mulhern nearly flashes Saturday Night Takeaway viewers after being dunked in bath by Ant
- Fans and campmates react as Ant & Dec reveal I'm a Celeb South Africa contestants on Saturday Night Takeaway
Ant and Dec make Sunderland dig at guest announcer Jill Scott on Saturday Night Takeaway
Ant and Dec issue Saturday Night Takeaway apology as guest Toni Colette swears minutes into show
