Fury as BBC Breakfast presenters fail to wear poppies despite launch of annual Poppy Appeal - unlike their ITV and Sky rivals

Viewers have criticised presenters on BBC Breakfast after they appeared not to be wearing poppies on the first day of the remembrance appeal.

Presenters Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty fronted this morning's programme but appeared not to be wearing the red flower synonymous with the Royal British Legion's annual appeal.

Elsewhere Richard Madeley and Ranvir Singh wore poppies on ITV's Good Morning Britain while Anna Jones also supported the appeal on Sky's breakfast programme.

Irritated viewers expressed their disappointment in the national broadcaster on social media, with Adrian Dodd asking: 'Why are the BBC breakfast presenters not wearing poppies? All the other UK news are.'

Ian Ward, a councillor in Sandown on the Isle of Wight, said: 'Just watching the morning news I see ITV presenters have Poppies on, same with Sky News including their guests. Unfortunately, nobody on the BBC News is wearing a Poppy.'

Last night viewer Elaine Hoggard posted on Facebook: 'Anyone else noticed that BBC News channels are not wearing poppies. All other channels are. Shame on you BBC.'

Mr Stayt, 64, and Ms Munchetty, 51, received similar criticism in October 2020 when they began a 6am BBC Breakfast broadcast wearing poppies, only to remove them at around 6.05am.

A BBC spokesman said at the time that the corporation agreed a date annually from which poppies could be worn on air to allow for consistency across its output.

It said in 2020 poppies could be worn on-screen from October 31 and the BBC Breakfast presenters had been wearing theirs before this time.

The spokesman said: 'Naga and Charlie were wearing [their poppies] earlier than the guidance outlined, which is why they were removed, and there was no intention to appear disrespectful.

'The following morning, Saturday 31st October, Naga and Charlie were wearing poppies in line with the guidance.'

Yesterday Andy Burnham welcomed armed forces veterans and poppy appeal collectors to No 10 North in Manchester to mark the start of this year's campaign.

Prime ministers would usually make their donation to the appeal on the steps of Downing Street but Mr Burnham decided to bring campaigners to the Manchester hub instead.

Speaking alongside his wife Marie-France van Heel, the Prime Minister said: 'This time of year gives us the opportunity to honour the courage and sacrifice of those who served, remember those who never came home, and show our gratitude to the entire veterans and armed forces community.

'I also want to put on record my personal thanks to those who have served, and those who continue to serve today, to protect our national security and keep our country safe- thank you for your service and the sacrifice you and your loved ones make.

'Every donation made to the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal will help support those who have served and give back to those who have done so much for us.'

The Daily Mail contacted the BBC for comment on this morning's criticism.

In 2001 the corporation was accused of 'insane' political correctness after it admitted presenters on its international news channel had been banned from wearing poppies.

BBC World presenters were not allowed to wear the remembrance symbol because it was not recognised abroad and was therefore inappropriate for an international channel.

Robert Fox, a London Evening Standard reporter, was told to remove his poppy before going on air that year and said he was 'furious' at the policy.

At the time Rachel Attwell, then-controller of BBC World, defended the ban saying: 'Because we have a global audience, it has always been policy that news presenters do not wear poppies.

'There is a lack of awareness of what the poppy means overseas. It is simply not recognised.'