The Spaghetti Tree Hoax: Inside the 1957 BBC’s April Fools Joke That Caused A Nationwide Uproar

In 1957, the BBC shocked the nation with a prank that redefined the April Fool's prank. Picture this: A picturesque family in the Swiss countryside delicately plucking strands of spaghetti from a tree.

Absurd, right? Nevertheless, this crazy scene aired as an authentic report on BBC's Panorama. Here's the twist: Spaghetti was a culinary mystery to many Britons at the time.

So, when they saw this "spaghetti crop," a light bulb went off—they could grow their own pasta!

Soon after, the BBC was flooded with queries from curious viewers wanting to cultivate their own Spaghetti Trees.

But as soon as the laughter subsided, an uproar broke out. Newspaper headlines became louder, debates raged, and the nation found itself divided over a simple truth – spaghetti doesn't grow on trees.

It was a masterstroke of manipulation that exposed both the power of the media and the undoubted gullibility of the public.

The 1957 Spaghetti-Tree Prank isn't just a joke — it's a piece of history that reminds us of the power of a well-played April Fools' gag.

The person primarily responsible for this hoax was Charles de Jager, an Austrian-born panorama cameraman who loved to play practical jokes.

As a child, a teacher at his school used to describe his students as being so stupid that if they were told that spaghetti grew on trees, they would believe it.

De Jager always dreamed of playing an April Fool's joke and in 1957, luck smiled on him. April Fool's Day coincides with Panorama's Monday broadcast, presenting the perfect opportunity.

He made a compelling case, assuring that he could handle the shoot financially while also handling another assignment in Switzerland. Panorama's editor, Michael Peacock, agreed, approving a small budget of £100 for the project.

The person primarily responsible for this hoax was Charles de Jager, an Austrian-born panorama cameraman who loved to play practical jokes.

As a child, a teacher at his school used to describe his students as being so stupid that if they were told that spaghetti grew on trees, they would believe it.

De Jager always dreamed of playing an April Fool's joke and in 1957, luck smiled on him. April Fool's Day coincides with Panorama's Monday broadcast, presenting the perfect opportunity.

He made a compelling case, assuring that he could handle the shoot financially while also handling another assignment in Switzerland. Panorama's editor, Michael Peacock, agreed, approving a small budget of £100 for the project.

The hoax was given authenticity by the involvement of the announcer, Richard Dimbleby.

Dimbleby, a respected veteran broadcaster and the BBC's inaugural war correspondent, was not known for humour.

Yet, in all seriousness, they contributed to the mischief.

In his usual style, Dimbleby confidently reported the upcoming abundant Spaghetti harvest in Switzerland, thanks to the almost complete eradication of the Spaghetti tree's main predator, the "Spaghetti Weevil".

The narrator also describes how each year the end of March is a very anxious time for spaghetti harvesters throughout Europe as severe frost can spoil the taste of the spaghetti.

Although the "farm" was located in Switzerland, an unlikely place to grow pasta compared to its native location in Italy, and the segment aired on April Fool's Day, many people fell for it.

An estimated eight million people watched the program on 1 April 1957, and hundreds of people reached out to the BBC, amazed by the video and inquiring about getting their own personal Spaghetti Trees to cultivate noodles at home.

Along with the joke, the BBC humorously advised people to "put a sprig of spaghetti in a tin of tomato sauce and hope for the best" as their official response.