Notorious prankster John Oliver says April Fools Day is "awful" - and he's begging viewers not to take part.
In a new video posted online, Oliver takes aim at the tradition of pulling pranks on the morning of April 1 and asks fans to pledge not to take part.
"April Fools' Day is to comedy what St Patrick's Day is to Irish culture," Oliver tells viewers of his HBO show, Last Week Tonight.
His pledge reads: "I solemnly swear that on this April Fools' Day, I will not post a fake engagement photo on Facebook like some kind of a***hole. Nor will I perpetuate a celebrity death hoax, because that makes people sad.
"In fact I will not play any practical jokes, and if I see someone planning a prank, I will say to them, 'hey you're being a dick right now, stop being a dick. Seriously, stop being a dick'."
Last Week Tonight screens on Soho in New Zealand.
- nzherald.co.nz