Amid these often dark and difficult times – and with a rising tide of online disinformation – judging the tone of a good April Fools’ gag has become much harder for news organisations. On Saturday morning, though, readers enjoyed waking up to a wealth of stories offering some light relief.
The Sun published a piece announcing the launch of Prince Harry and Meghan’s new video game “Megxit: Call of Duke-y” in which the royal couple try to reach California while dodging obstacles, including rival royals and the media, along the way.
The piece claimed a source had said: “There are some brilliant secret levels, including one where the player finds themself in the Duke of York’s bedroom, confronted by a raging Prince Andrew bouncing on his bed, hurling teddy bears.
“It seemed the logical progression after the success of his book and Netflix series.”
There were also reports that some of Britain’s tallest buildings, including the BT Tower, were to be converted into wind turbines to help Britain reach net zero under radical climate plans secretly approved by the government. “The Treasury is understood to be ‘hugely supportive’ of the scheme as it will help bring down the cost of electricity in London,” the Telegraph claimed in a report by Lois Raplof.
Meanwhile, Wales Online reported the introduction of 20mph speed limits along the M4 to reduce pollution, accidents and confusion caused by Welsh language road signs.
Durham University’s student newspaper, Palatinate, announced that the small north-east city would be the site of the newest Formula One street circuit, with some of its cobbled streets and ancient monuments being incorporated into the track.
East London Radio stated that its morning show would be sponsored by Matt Hancock cheddar. In a tweet, it called on listeners to “add more to your cooking than just a knob of butter – include a knob of cheese, too”.
Greenpeace “admitted” to paying Kwasi Kwarteng £10,000 a day to support windfarms.
And the rugby team Northampton Saints “announced” the opening of a hospitality suite halfway up the Northampton Lift Tower.
Others getting in on the fun included McDonald’s, which unveiled its new Big McNugget Boot, “the most flavoursome shoe of SS23”, and the paint brand Dulux, which “decided” to ditch its iconic sheepdog logo in favour of a king charles spaniel in honour of the new monarch.
Snack company Babybel declared its individually wrapped cheeses would be replaced by a new square version “to be taken more seriously”. The company wrote: “After it came to light that the brand is deemed ‘too fun’, the decision has been made to change to a new, more ‘mature’ shape.”
📣Calling all fashionistas 📣
— McDonald's UK (@McDonaldsUK) April 1, 2023
We’ve got the must have drop of the season.
Unveiling the Big McNugget Boot, the most flavoursome shoe of SS23. Releasing exclusively through the McDonald’s App this Monday. pic.twitter.com/1hjFuFZOfG
In a fake press release, the dating app Tinder said it would be banning all images of people holding fish, and the language learning app Duolingo said it had partnered with the streaming service Peacock on a fake dating show called ‘Love Language: The catch?’ in which none of the singletons speak the same language as one another and therefore must use Duolingo to communicate.
The Eiffel Tower’s official Twitter page announced it would be transformed into the world’s biggest slide, and London’s Royal Albert Hall claimed that newly unearthed documents show Churchill wanted to use Hitler’s lost testicle as a propaganda tool during the second world war.
REVEALED: Winston Churchill wrote to the Hall in 1940 asking if we really had Hitler’s ball. https://t.co/1cy0lcWKoC pic.twitter.com/9gef6UUZkH
— Royal Albert Hall (@RoyalAlbertHall) April 1, 2023
A host of entertainers also joined in, with presenting duo Ant and Dec telling their followers they are in talks to join the cast of the new Bond movie.
And so far, more than 2,000 people have liked a tweet from an Oasis fan account, featuring an edited image of the estranged Gallagher brothers that suggests they have just enjoyed a night out together.
According to reports…
— Anything Oasis Official (@AnythingOasis) March 31, 2023
Noel Gallagher was spotted in Chiltern Firehouse, London last night on a night out with Brother Liam Gallagher & Debbie.
Could the reunion be almost there?! pic.twitter.com/HeoMBz5d9W
