These foolish things

With less than a week to go til the first of the month we've put together our all-time, top ten favourite pranks from hilarious website museumofhoaxes.com.

The Swiss Spaghetti Harvest: In 1957 BBC news show, Panorama, announced bumper spaghetti crops thanks to a mild winter and the virtual elimination of the dreaded spaghetti weevil. It accompanied this feature with footage of Swiss peasants pulling strands of spaghetti from trees. When huge numbers of viewers contacted the BBC asking how they could grow their own stocks the BBC diplomatically replied "place a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best."

The Left-Handed Whopper: Ten years ago Burger King published a full-page advertisement in American daily newspaper, USA today, promoting the Left-Handed Whopper. Apparently the new addition to the Burger King bill of fare, specifically designed for the 32 million left-handed Americans, included all the same ingredients as the original Whopper, rotated by 180 degrees. The following day the multi-national food company revealed thousands of customers had requested not only the new sandwich, but also their beloved right handed version, in restaurants across the country.

Smellovision: Another great BBC gotcha. In 1965 the mainstream television channel broadcast an interview with a professor who'd invented a device called smellovision. This technological advance allowed viewers to experience, in the comfort of their own home, aromas produced during the show. After a demonstration involving cutting onions and brewing coffee a number of viewers called to confirm they'd experienced these scents as if they were there in the studio.

San Seriffe: The Guardian Newspaper published a seven page supplement in 1977 devoted to San Serriffe, a small republic located in the Indian Ocean consisting of several semi-colon shaped islands. According to the article the two main islands in this region were named Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse, its capital was Bodoni and its leader General Pica. Despite the apparent references to printing terminology the Guardian's phones rang off the hook as readers sought more information about the idyllic holiday spot. The ensuing enthusiasm for April Foolery that's gripped the British tabloids in subsequent decade, is largely accredited to the success of this prank.

One-Way Highway: In 1991 the London Times announced the Department of Transport had finalised a plan to ease congestion on the M25. The proposal would double the capacity of the road by forcing traffic on both carriageways to travel in the same direction. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays traffic would travel clockwise, Tuesdays and Thursdays anticlockwise whilst the scheme would not operate on weekends. One of the protestors included a spokesman for Labour Transport who reportedly warned "Many drivers already have trouble telling their left from their right."

Big Ben Goes Digital: The BBC reported in 1980 that in order to keep up with the times, Big Ben was to be given a digital readout. It received a huge response from listeners protesting the change.

The Taco Liberty Bell: In 1996 the Taco Bell Corporation announced it had purchased the Liberty Bell and was renaming it the Taco Liberty Bell. Hundreds of outraged citizens contacted the National Historic Park in Philadelphia where the bell was housed to express their anger. But the best line of the day came from White House press secretary Mike McCurry. When asked about the sale he responded that the Lincoln Memorial had also been sold and would henceforth be known as the Ford Lincoln Mercury Memorial.

Corporate Tattoos: In 1994 National Public Radio's All Things Considered programme reported companies such as Pepsi were sponsoring teenagers to tattoo their ears with corporate logos. In return for branding themselves with the corporate symbol, the teenagers would receive a lifetime 10 per cent discount on that company's product. Needless to say, teenagers responded enthusiastically to this deal.

Planetary Alignment Decreases Gravity: Sir Patrick Moore announced a once in a lifetime astronomical event in 1976 on BBC Radio 2. According to the British astronomer, at 9:47am the planet Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, temporarily causing a gravitational alignment that would counteract and decrease the Earth's own gravity. Moore told listeners if they jumped in the air at the exact moment this planetary alignment occurred they would experience a strange floating sensation. BBC2 subsequently received hundreds of phone calls from listeners, including one woman who reported she and her eleven friends had risen from their chairs and floated around the room.

The Origin of April Fool's Day: Last but by no means least in 1983 the Associated Press reported the mystery of the origins of April Fool's Day had been solved. Joseph Boskin, a history professor at Boston University, had discovered the celebration began during the reign of Constantine when a group of court jesters boasted they could do a better job of ruling the empire. In response, Constantine appointed a jester named Kugel as ruler for one day. Kugel immediately decreed only absurdity would be allowed in the kingdom, and the custom became an annual event. News media throughout the country reprinted the story - not realising Boskin had made the whole thing up.