This is the “spaghetti tree” identical to the one shown on BBC television screens nearly 70 years ago, believed to be among the first TV April Fool’s Day pranks worldwide, which caused a stir in British society.
The three-minute short documentary aired on Panorama, showcasing the picturesque Lake Lugano, where a Swiss woman gently plucks “spaghetti strands” hanging like fruit from the branches of a large tree, then lays the pasta strands neatly in a woven basket to dry in the sun.
The idea originated from Charles de Jaeger, an Austrian freelance cameraman who had assisted with French radio broadcasts during World War II before joining the BBC.
De Jaeger was inspired by a childhood teacher’s remark, who would scold students saying, "You’re stupid enough to believe spaghetti grows on trees."
The Panorama producer, normally presenting serious social issues, surprisingly approved this quirky idea. De Jaeger was given a modest budget of only £100 and made every penny count, creating a homegrown spaghetti farm that appeared as a utopian agricultural scene.
The prank’s believability was heightened by having Richard Dimbleby narrate. Dimbleby was a war correspondent who had faced gunfire on front lines, flown with bombing missions over Germany, and personally reported on concentration camp atrocities. His deep voice symbolized truth trusted by the British public.
In this documentary, Dimbleby’s trustworthy tone described the Swiss farmers’ successful spaghetti harvest, crediting their eradication of the notorious “spaghetti weevil” pest.
Although Dimbleby tried to remind viewers at the end that it was April 1, he could not stop the growing confusion.
BBC was inundated with phone calls from the public. Some were angry that a serious documentary slot was used for a joke, while some families argued at the dinner table over whether spaghetti really grew on trees, even calling the station to request proof to settle their debates.
Endearingly, many viewers were fascinated by this botanical innovation and earnestly called BBC asking, “Where can I buy spaghetti tree seeds to grow at home?”
The confusion stemmed from the social context of 1950s Britain, where spaghetti was still a novelty and not widely known. Sir Ian Jacob, BBC’s director-general at the time, even had to consult three encyclopedias to find the origin of spaghetti.
Not everyone found the prank amusing, sparking criticism about media ethics and credibility. Yet David Wheeler, Panorama’s producer, felt no regret over the resulting chaos.
"I think it was good that people realized they can't believe everything they see on television," Wheeler said. "They should start adopting a questioning attitude and critically examine what they see."
. ReferencesBBC,History Net
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