Londoner, Brian Kirkby, who last year beat over 4000 other contestants to be crowned Britain’s Most Gullible Man 2008, has asked the public to ‘please exercise a little restraint this coming April Fool’s day’.

Speaking early this morning from outside BBC Television Centre, where he had been invited to appear on today’s edition of the BBC Breakfast show, (or so he believed) Mr. Kirkby made this impassioned plea on behalf of the gullible; ‘I’m here today to speak up for the credulous amongst us. Apparently a thousand people die of heart attacks, every day, after being told that the government are painting the white cliffs of Dover black because they’re racist. People don’t realise that for some of us, the first twelve hours of April every year are a living hell – or the first five hours if you are using the new decimal 10 hour day that the government have apparently announced.’

A recent poll of Imperial Storm troopers has revealed that as many as 20% are suffering from psychological issues due to the fact that they have had to switch from fighting for the good of the Universe to joining the Dark Side.

‘Every day is a living nightmare’ said clone Storm trooper A4815162342 who has been diagnosed as suffering from ‘Star Wars Syndrome’.