The day the BBC played a prank on April Fools’ Day – level 2

01-04-1957

One of the most famous April Fools’ Day pranks was played by the BBC on April 1, 1957. They showed a short film about a family in Switzerland who picked spaghetti from trees.

The reporter explained that the warm winter was the reason for such a big amount of spaghetti.

Many viewers were fooled by the film. Some people even called the BBC to ask how they could grow their own spaghetti trees.

The spaghetti used in the film was actually bought from a local store and hung on trees.

The BBC later explained that the film was a funny April Fools’ Day joke and apologized for any confusion which it created.

Difficult words: prank (a joke which gives people a surprise), fooled (tricked), confusion (when you don’t understand something).

What other April Fools' Day pranks have been played by the BBC in the years since this prank was aired?

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