Motorway speed limit cut to 20mph, Ant and Dec to appear in James Bond and Matt Hancock’s new brand of cheese: Which April Fools did YOU fall for today?
- Ant and Dec, McDonald’s and the Royal Albert Hall all got in on April Fools action
- MailOnline rounds up the stand-out pranks from today… were you fooled by any?
It’s that time of year again – loved by some and loathed by many, the date has hopefully given it away.
But if you hadn’t cottoned on to what day it is, then you have probably already been caught out by one of the many pranks being played by companies, celebrities and news outlets this April Fool’s Day.
Some of the highlights so far include the M4’s speed limit being reduced to just 20mph, Cornwall settling an age-old score with Devon over scones, and a tablet found at the Roman Bath’s in Bath cursing a ‘swimming trunks thief’.
As usual, some of the country’s favourite brands have also used it for a cheeky marketing opportunity – with McDonald’s bringing out it’s edible version of UGGs, IRN-BRU and Malibu teaming up to make MALI-BRU and the Dulux dog being replaced.
Here, MailOnline rounds up the daftest pranks pulled this April Fool’s Day, some of which are more convincing than others…
Ant and Dec say they are in talks to join the cast of the next James Bond movie, as Bond fans eagerly await an announcement on who the new Bond will be
McDonald’s claims to be bringing out ‘the must have drop of the season’ – The McNugget Boot
Who do you think you are kidding? Royal Albert Hall ‘reveals Churchill’s secret wartime letters’
The Royal Albert Hall says that newly-unearthed documents ‘show Churchill wanted to use Hitler’s lost testicle as a propaganda tool during the Second World War’.
Proving that even the most serious establishments can get in on the fun, the iconic concert hall thought it would reference the John Jones song ‘Hitler Has Only Got One Ball’ for its April Fools Day prank.
‘As the Battle of Britain raged, the British Prime Minister wrote to Ernest O’Follipar, then chief executive of the round London venue, asking whether it was true that – to paraphrase the famous wartime ditty – Hitler only had ‘one ball’ since ‘the other is in the Albert Hall’,’ it wrote.
The Royal Albert Hall says that newly-unearthed documents ‘show Churchill wanted to use Hitler’s lost testicle as a propaganda tool during the Second World War’
The concert hall even mocked-up correspondence from Churchill, reading: ‘Ernie – keep hearing this rumour about the Chelsea Arts affair not being the only ball held at the Hall, much to Mr Hitler’s discomfort.
‘Any truth in it? Worth more than a tank squadron to us if so.’
It also quotes fake historians who label the memos ‘revelatory’ and ‘a major find’ – as well as some who cast doubt. ‘Fairly interesting if they are genuine, which I doubt’.
The game was given away by the name of the venue’s former boss – O’Follipar – previously known to have struck on this day.
The British Prime Minister wrote to Ernest O’Follipar, then chief executive of the round London venue – The Royal Albert Hall claims on April Fool’s Day
The game was given away by the name of the venue’s former boss – O’Follipar – previously known to have struck on this day
The concert hall even mocked-up correspondence from Churchill in an elaborate April Fools prank
Letters from the fictional former boss to The Beatles were previously ‘unearthed’ detailing a ‘furious’ dispute between the band and the exec – whose surname is an anagram of April Fool.
Ant and Dec ‘in talks’ to star in new James Bond movie
Ant and Dec say they are in talks to join the cast of the next James Bond movie, as Bond fans eagerly await an announcement on who the new Bond will be.
The pranksters caveated the announcement by saying the high-level discussions are, in fact, with each other.
The Saturday Night Takeaway duo tweeted: ‘Well this is quite something…! It’s a total dream to be in discussions about joining an iconic British franchise’.
A fake news report shared by the pair read: ‘Ant and Dec have confirmed they are in talks* to join the cast of the next instalment in the James Bond franchise.
‘While the titular character’s casting remains unconfirmed, the dapper Geordie duo are in negotitations* to join the cast as two new characters.
‘Q will now have two sidekicks, A and D.’
In a smaller font at the bottom, it adds: ‘*with each other’.
Fans quickly worked out that they were being pranked, although some insisted that they would love to see the comics to star in the British blockbuster.
The prank comes as another British comedian – Daisy May Cooper – has actually been tipped to take on the role of spy chief M – previously portrayed by acting greats Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes.
M4 speed limit ‘reduced to 20mph’
Unduly low speed limits are always bound to infuriate drivers, but 20mph beggars belief.
WalesOnline’s report that some parts of the M4 motorway are to become the slowest in the world is likely to have wound up a few motorists today.
New 20mph zones are set to be introduced along the M4 motorway, the news site reported.
New 20mph zones are set to be introduced along the M4 motorway, WalesOnline reported
The fake news comes after the speed limit was reduced to 50mph on some parts of the road in a bid to manage congestion, improve journey times, reduce accidents and improve air quality.
‘It doesn’t solve the issue but it gives driver more time to react. It won’t save time, but it might save lives,’ said the paper’s source – Campaign for Road Awareness Problems (CRAP) driver, Terry Nut.
McDonalds brings out the ‘Big McNugget Boot’
As noughties icons Uggs have made a comeback in a big way, McDonald’s has surprisingly decided to get in on the chunky boot trend in it’s own way.
The fast-food chain claimed today that it is launching the must have of the season – the ‘Big McNugget Boot’.
The fast-food chain claimed today that it is launching the must have of the season – the ‘Big McNugget Boot’
The company tweeted: ‘Unveiling the Big McNugget Boot, the most flavoursome shoe of SS23.
‘Releasing exclusively through the McDonald’s App this Monday.’
Comparing the boots to the popular Australian brand, one social media user quipped in response: ‘Surely they’d be called nUGGS?’
Roman Baths discover tablet ‘cursing swimming trunk thief’
‘Exciting find!’ a post read on the Facebook page of The Roman Baths in Bath.
‘A brand new curse tablet has been discovered on site here at the Roman Baths’ – so far so good, you might think.
But the ‘discovery’ at the historic bathing complex, parts of which date back to 70AD, is not all it seems.
The Roman Baths in Bath claimed to have found a curse tablet with an inscription which sought revenge for some stolen swimming trunks
‘We have had the Latin inscription translated which reveals that the person who wrote this curse tablet had asked the goddess Sulis Minerva for revenge after a visitor at the baths had stolen his leather swimming trunks!’
‘This is the first time that the word trunks, Latin ‘truncus’ has ever been recorded on a curse tablet, and we are delighted to add this new curse tablet to the Roman Baths collection.’
Romans bathed naked at bath houses like the one in the Somerset city – and even if they didn’t, leather trunks probably wouldn’t have been the most comfortable alternative.
Matt Hancock launching his own cheese brand known as ‘cheese for the people’
It’s safe to say Matt Hancock has had a varied career since he stepped down as Health Secretary, and recently he was caught out trying to land a new job.
And while few expected he would be a campmate on I’m A Celebrity, even fewer will have pinned him as the face of a brand new cheddar cheese brand.
A mock-up of the cheese, named Matt Hancock’s Cheddar, has been released by a London advertising agency.
A creative agency claims Matt Hancock is launching his own cheddar brand known as ‘cheese for the people’
It features the face of the MP for West Suffolk, and the strapline ‘Cheese for the people’.
Creative agency isobel says: ‘Mature, tangy and quintessentially British, Hancock’s eponymous dairy brand looks set to capitalise on the MP’s jungle notoriety, although whether the UK consumer is ready for Matt Hancock in their fridge remains to be seen.’
When asked about the branding strategy and creative execution, an agency spokesperson told the Mirror that one of Hancock’s primary aims for launching the brand was to ‘normalise politicians’ and make them more ‘relatable’.
They added: ‘Everyone loves cheese so why not create a cheese brand for the people?’
Prince Harry and Meghan ‘to lauch Call of Dukey video game’
Speaking of unlikely career moves, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are probably not the first people you would expect to be starting their own video game franchise.
Prince Harry and Meghan could worsen an already strained relationship with the Royal Family by bringing out Megxit: Call of Dukey ahead of the Coronation – The Sun is claiming today.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are probably not the first people you would expect to be starting their own video game franchise
While the couple might be living in California, the home of the gaming industry, and have taken steps into the podcasting industry, being the main characters in a video game might be a bit too far.
Gamers can ‘choose to play as either the Duke of Sussex or his wife, escaping Buckingham Palace and travelling the world by Rolls-Royce, private plane and even jet ski as they try to reach California,’ The Sun says.
The paper even claims royal insiders are worried about the game, which features he King and other family members – branding it ‘insenstive’ and saying: ‘It won’t go down well at the Palace.
‘There are fears it may harm sales of the official Coronation video game,’ the existence of which is also debatable.
BT Tower to become wind turbine
Exposed to the British weather, the country’s tallest buildings would be well-placed to harness the power of the wind – if they weren’t high rise offices and landmarks.
BT Tower, the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth, the Radio City Tower in Liverpool, Blackpool Tower and the Angel of the North are being turned into wind turbines – The Telegraph claimed in its April Fool’s prank today.
The 620-ft BT Tower could be turned into the country’s biggest turbine – The Telegaph claimed on April Fool’s Day
The paper is reporting that plans have been submitted to turn the 620-ft BT Tower into the country’s biggest turbine, with the glass and metal structure being fitted with a giant three blade propeller.
As the government unveiled a new green energy plan this week, the pranksters say that the government is ‘hugely supportive’ of the scheme.
Government ‘to ban’ the ‘heathen’ Devon way of making cream teas
It would be a coup for Cornish culture and cuisine – with scones in the county famously only topped with jam first followed by clotted cream.
CornwallLive has claimed that the government has banned the ‘heathen’ Devon way of making scones (right). The Cornish way of preparing scones (left) sees jam put on first then clotted cream
And now an age-old feud with the Duchy’s neighbour, Devon – where cream is dolloped on first – has come to a head, with the government finally imposing a ban on the serving method.
Or so CornwallLive would have readers believe.
‘New legislation rushed through Parliament now bans what residents of Cornwall have been asking for for generations and could put an end to the heathen ‘Devon way’.’, the website reported.
It claimed that Cornwall’s six MPs are backing the legislation, which would see perpetrators fined.
Male model David Gandy launches ‘cheeky’ V-neck tshirt
Male model David Gandy announced this morning that his David Gandy Wellwear is launching a new t-shirt called the ‘Ultimate Double Deep V Torso Enhancing Magic’.
The underwear model bared all in racy snaps showing him wearing the top – which is cut all the way down to the navel.
But fans may be disappointed to discover that it’s all a ruse – and that Gandy, who is said to have a ‘cheeky sense of humour’ just waned to have a bit of April Fool’s Day fun.
Male model David Gandy announced this morning that his David Gandy Wellwear is launching a new t-shirt called the ‘Ultimate Double Deep V Torso Enhancing Magic’
BRU good to be true? Malibu join forces with IRN-BRU to create ‘MALI-BRU’
With one hailing from the shores of the Caribbean and the other from Cumbernauld, these two drinks make a very unlikely pairing – perhaps too unlikely for some to believe.
The partnership – which the companies suggested would see the two drinks mixed in a can – is being teased just in time for April.
Pioneering experts from two of the nation’s most loved beverages have created a tropical taste sensation which evokes white sandy beaches, iron girders, and a sun-kissed Cumbernauld, it was announced.
They tipped it as the tipple of choice for sun craving Brits this summer, whose imagination is longing for hotter climes.
While the combination may sound bizarre to some, many Scots will welcome the recognition of what has actually been a popular drink for many years.
BRU good to be true? Malibu join forces with IRN-BRU to create ‘MALI-BRU’
Adrian Troy, Marketing Director at AG Barr said: ‘After a long, cold winter, we’re all in desperate need of some solar rays and summer vibes. So, right on cue, our partnership with Malibu allows us to give fans across the country some sunshine in a can.’
Leanne Banks, Marketing Director at Pernod Ricard UK, commented: ‘Malibu has always been unashamedly proud to ‘Do Whatever Tastes Good’ and this phenomenal collaboration is no exception.
We’ve had a lot of fun bringing these two iconic and much-loved brands together – sweet and smooth coconut perfectly blended with the steely fizz of IRN-BRU, the new Mali-BRU RTD tastes like it was always meant to be!’
For those unable to get their hands on a can – which may or may not be coming out soon – bars across Scotland are said to be serving up this combo for a limited time.
Dulux dog ‘to be replaced with a King Charles Spaniel’
The face of the British paint brand for 60 years, the Dulux dog is instantly recognisable.
But now, the company says the Old English Sheep Dog has earnt some much needed rest, with her retirement announced on April Fool’s Day.
The change-up is said to be in homage to King Charles’ Coronation on May 6, with a mock-up of a red paint tin labelled Coronation Velvet shared by the brand
‘Fans must now wave goodbye to the beloved icon, and all rise to welcome the new face of the paint brand – a King Charles Spaniel,’ the company claimed.
The change-up is said to be in homage to King Charles’ Coronation on May 6, with a mock-up of a red paint tin labelled Coronation Velvet shared by the brand.
Karen Wilkinson, Marketing Director at Dulux, says: ‘We understand this might cause an upset amongst devoted fans of our beautiful sheepdog.
‘However we think its high time she put her paws up for a little TLC – and what better time to take a step back than April Fool’s Day…?!’
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