Viewers have criticised presenters on BBC Breakfast after they did not wear poppies on the first day of the remembrance appeal.

Hosts Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty fronted this morning's programme but did not don 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 show.

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

Another added: 'Anyone else noticed that BBC News channels are not wearing poppies. All other channels are. Shame on you BBC.'

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.'

A spokesman for the corporation told the Daily Mail: 'BBC policy states that poppies may be worn on screen, for those wishing to do so, from 6am on Saturday 24 October to 11.59pm on Tuesday 11 November 2026.'

They added this applied to all BBC presenters and programmes including news broadcasts.

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

A BBC spokesman said at the time that the corporation agreed poppies could be worn on-screen from October 31 to allow for consistency across its output 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 No10 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 PM 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.'

In 2001, the broadcaster 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.'