April Fools pranks

Since it first started, pranksters have gone to great lengths to inflict elaborate April fools on celebrities, newspapers, radio stations and famous landmarks ...

In 1957, the BBC pulled off one of the most famous April Fools Day pranks of all time. While the police and fire service were in on the joke, Bickar had forgotten to inform the Coast Guard. The BBC World Service pranked people in 1980 when they announced that London’s most famous landmark was getting a facelift. In 1848 a journalist distributed invites to the public to see the washing of the lions. They flocked up in shoals to see the lions washed. The day of pranks and jokes has been around for decades - and some historians speculate that April Fools’ Day dates back to 1582.

April Fools Day seems like a fun idea, but for those afraid of being tricked, it's 24 hours of anxiety.

Impressively liberated from our opulent life-style, Sidd's deciding about yoga —and his future in baseball," reporter George Plimpton wrote. But the announcement itself was nothing but a whopper. In 1962, the only television channel in Sweden only broadcast in black and white. In 1957 the BBC aired a segment about a bountiful harvest of spaghetti in a Swiss village. But the iceberg was merely a barge covered in plastic sheets, firefighting foam and shaving cream. April Fools' Day seems like a fun idea, but for those afraid of being tricked, it's 24 hours of anxiety.

The French media love a good April Fool or 'Poisson d'Avril' - here are five of the best.

French attitudes to healthcare](https://www.connexionfrance.com/article/Mag/Culture/Five-things-they-don-t-tell-you-about-French-attitudes-to-healthcare) Read more:

From spaghetti harvests to game show swaps, these are five of the biggest and most creative April Fools' pranks of all time.

On April 1 of that year, Taco Bell took out full-page ads in seven major newspapers claiming they had purchased the iconic Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania and planned to rename it “ [The Taco Liberty Bell](https://www.phillyvoice.com/two-decades-ago-taco-bell-convinced-america-it-had-bought-liberty-bell/).” [George Clooney](https://www.cracked.com/article_32915_george-clooneys-baffling-history-of-elaborate-pranks.html) a run for his money, or you consider yourself gullible enough to consistently fall for other people’s pranks, we hope these April Fools’ gags from years past put a smile on your face. [most-watched](https://www.nexttv.com/news/jeopardy-wheel-of-fortune-renewed-for-five-more-years-on-abc-owned-stations) and well-loved game shows. Seeing the two beloved hosts swap places and commit to taking on each other’s roles was just uncanny enough to make a perfect prank. But in 1980, the BBC set out to have some fun with it, claiming on their overseas radio program that the classic analog clock was going to be For viewers who were used to watching the two shows every week, the switch provided some novelty, especially given that the late, great Trebek’s acerbic nature and Sajak’s enthusiasm have always been at odds. But in 2014, they played a simple prank to prove some of their audience may not be quite as committed to reading as they claim. This two and a half minute “report,” shot in the black-and-white film of the day and narrated in a straight-laced tone by the show’s host, the respected British journalist Richard Dimbeley, is believed to be one of the first-ever televised April Fools’ pranks. The ad positioned the buying of the Liberty Bell as “an effort to help the national debt,” and concluded, “while some may find this controversial, we hope our move will prompt other corporations to take similar action to do their part to reduce the country’s debt.” The ad led to talk show and news segments and countless angry phone calls. The BBC ended up having to While some viewers criticized the BBC for putting a spoof segment on a news show, others were totally fooled. There are a few key factors: It should be creative and unexpected, it should be realistically achievable, and it should be playful rather than mean-spirited.

The historic tradition of pranking people on 1 April has routes in Gregorian history and media outlets including the BBC have capitalised on the tradition ...

The announcement ruffled feathers, with many calling in to complain – a BBC spokesperson at the time said “few people thought it was funny”. The tradition is a two-day event; on 1 April people are sent on false errands or “hunting the gowk”. They were ridiculed as “fools”, which explains the name.

Here are some of this year's best April fools pranks that have Australia talking. Huge Anaconda spotted in Buderim Falls. This Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers ...

“Definitely feel for this bloke, he lasted this long in the NRL. I AM HURT BY THIS MEAN JOKE.” The pickle burger would be amazing. Meanwhile another follower said: “Oh no we have a wedding on the boardwalk at 11am right there! Super League would definitely suit him,” another said. This burger would be amazing.

Authorities across Australia fired out a string of hilarious April Fools Day pranks on Saturday. The jokes were shared social media by various police and ...

Western Australia Police also revealed it was releasing "new merchandise", sharing a photo on social media of a navy blue police hoodie with the slogan "Live. Law". A specialist range of wheeled police known as the "Roller Squad" will patrol "car-free zones, malls and bicycle paths". The pranks continued down south, with Victoria Police revealing it was rolling out a new squad to "help combat street crime and anti-social behaviour" in Melbourne. From specialist police squads to new merchandise, police forces and emergency services across Australia have fired out a string of hilarious pranks on social media for April Fools Day. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services jumped on board the April Fools Day fun by introducing their new hydration drink "BURN", a nod to YouTubers Logan Paul and KSI's Prime energy drink.

April Fools' Day is in full swing as the Australian public and brands try and fool each other with both outlandish and sort of believable fake claims.

Now I’m just disappointed that I can’t go and look at it,' one user wrote. An impersonator, Reggie Brown, was dressed and covered in make-up to appear like the former US president. I’m a bit slow this morning. 'Say hello to Farmer Alf! The Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers joined in claiming that a South American anaconda had made its way to the Buderim Falls in the Sunshine Coast hinterland. A South American anaconda spotted outside a trail walk on the Sunshine Coast by the Sunshine Coast Snake Catchers (pictured) was not all it appeared to be Facebook site for Perth locals, Perth is OK, posted a picture of the city's brand new waterfall that had appeared off one of its braches: 'Coogee Falls, only 40 minutes from the Perth CBD!' The award for most people fooled might go to reality TV show, Farmer Wants a Wife, for 'announcing' that Home and Away character, Alf Stewart, would be joining the show (pictured) Some Perth locals were fooled by a social media account that claimed the city was going to be the first Southern Hemisphere city to witness the Aurora Borealis (stock image) 'Perth may be the first city in the southern hemisphere to ever witness the Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) due to a rare, once in a lifetime example of extreme tropospheric ducting,' the Facebook page wrote. No fuss. No mess.