TV presenters wearing poppies.

I noticed that too but assumed that it's not an exact science when each piece will be shown and maybe that interview was shown earlier than planned.

The 2017 Poppy Appeal will launch on 26 October and that's when this year's poppies go on sale. So the question is, are these last year's poppies and if so, have the presenters made a donation to the Royal British Legion? The main point of the poppy appeal is to raise funds for the RBL to distribute to people in need who serve or have served with the British Forces.

Well if it's is , I for one don't mind, as long as we do remember. But with the politicaly correct brigade who seem to abhor honouring our war dead, perhaps we should be pleased that some at the BBC are ahead of time.

I think it depends where they are. Wearing a poppy while sitting behind a desk is fine - although I'm not certain about guests wearing them, I can't help feeling some of them have just had them pinned on as they dashed through the door. But would you wear a poppy in real life if you were sloshing across a muddy field? It looks a bit like the BBC saying "Look at us, aren't we good wearing poppies?"

Who are these politically correct people who abhor honouring our war dead?

And being ahead of time actually to me says it’s a meaningless gesture

May be it has been exaggerated by social media & newspapers, but there is a growing opinion that we are actually ignoring the atrocities carried out by this country , in places where some believe we should never have been. The poppy for me is a mark of respect & recognition of all lives lost , especially when perhaps our leaders past & present could have steered a different course. But that's easy to say when we are safely sitting in our armchairs & don't know the whole scenario.

Well said Bridgeit
I have bought our poppies today and will start wearing them.
Probably the BBC would get too much flak from viewers if they didn’t wear them ( and even when they do!)

"Who are these politically correct people who abhor honouring our war dead?" - I do not know and neither does the phrase politically correct seem relevant.

I respect people's right to choose the way that they wish to remember those who fought in two world wars; and sadly in subsequent wars. For some it will be wearing a red poppy, for some a white and for others something else which is private to them.

I do not wear a red poppy for two reasons:

- the British Legion has some bedfellows about which seem inappropriate to me.
- my father, who served in Singapore, chose not to wear a poppy - I do not know why; I never asked. But I do not wear one to honour his memory. He was a very intelligent man and I am sure he had good reasons.

I hate this patronising and erroneous assumption that those not wearing a poppy are in some way flawed. WE have freedom of choice - that is what these people fought and died for.

As to the BBC, it does seem as if there is an edict which obliges those on screen to wear a poppy - I think this is wrong

I think I've said this somewhere before. I used to be a door to door poppy seller. I received my tray and collection tins in early October but wasn't allowed to go round the doors until two weeks before Remembrance Sunday, not Armistice Day. Shops etc had theirs at the same time, but we're expected to do the same as the door to door collectors. My local organiser was quite strict about it.

I wear a red poppy in commemoration of those who died in war. I have been very fortunate, my grandfathers survived WW1, my father, father in law, uncles and other loved ones survived WW2.
I have no problem with BBC or other presenters wearing poppies and I suspect there isn't an edict, its more likely to have become something of a cultural norm at the Beeb.

Perhaps I am lucky I have never come across anybody who thinks badly of anyone NOT wearing a poppy. I used to be a poppy seller & I met and spoke to many people some of whom did not agree with them. I was also questioned by Jonathan Dimbelby as to whether I knew how & where they were made !

I agree Bridgeit, I don't know anyone who would judge poppy wearers or non poppy wearers. I have a few friends who will only wear a white poppy. I understand their reasons for this but I choose to wear a red one. Not to glorify war as some critics suggest, but as a mark of respect and sadness for so many young lives lost in war.

Thank you Iam64, exactly ,you put it so well it is to remember those who have died & to remind us all of how fortunate we mostly are in this country .Two of my great uncles died at a very young age, I doubt that they new what for, but we know that we are still free in this country & have freedom of speech & for that I for one will be eternally grateful for that.

Yesterday my H called me in to where he was watching a football match on television.
They were holding a 2 minute silence and had the last post played.
The crowd were holding white cards and red ones to make up poppies.
I couldn't understand why it was so early.
there will be several more televised matches before Armistice Day.

I guess it's all about raising money (at least in this case for a good cause IMO) Easter, Christmas, Valentine's Day ,everything has become much more commercialised these days, everyone wants our money !!

The judging of non-poppy wearers was on this thread.

I have no problem at all about BBC folk wearing poppies - as long as it is their choice.

Just been watching ITV news , they are wearing poppies!

I shall start to wear my already-bought poppy wristband and other items on November 1st. October seems too early.

We buy our poppies from a poppy seller who calls every year. He comes in the first week in November which I think is early enough to wear them. We wear them for all who fought and died in both those wars prior and subsequent conflicts, particularly family members three of whom were killed.

Niggly, your father x

Thanks annie, that is kind. Yes, him in particular. I find I think of him much more often now that I'm old than I ever did when I was young and what my life might have been had he lived. I was very lucky though with my stepfather, it could have been very different!

The 2017 Poppy Appeal will launch on 26 October and that's when this year's poppies go on sale. So the question is, are these last year's poppies and if so, have the presenters made a donation to the Royal British Legion?

This seem to have varied

I am sure, like you ga that the launch was on 26th October this year but one or two places seem to have held the launch earlier than that.
Some places, too, such as our local pub, request poppies and a collecting box all year round.

I was also questioned by Jonathan Dimbelby as to whether I knew how & where they were made !
Bridgeit I wonder if JD himself has ever been to the Poppy Factory which provides work for disabled veterans and disabled dependents. It is a separate charity from the RBL.