Loose Women's Charlene White shares why she doesn't wear poppy after backlash

Loose Women’s Charlene White has sparked backlash from viewers as she appeared on screen without a poppy.

During Friday’s (November 1st) episode of the hit daytime chat show, viewers and the live studio audience were joined by Charlene and co-stars Nadia Sawalha, Judi Love and Frankie Bridge.

Introducing the show, Charlene started off by saying: “We’ve got that Friday feeling guys. Welcome to your final of the week and we definitely have that Friday feeling.”

She added: “It’s the first of November, which means we are heading a lot closer to .” However just minutes in, eagle-eyed viewers were quick to notice that Charlene was the only panellist that wasn’t weaning a poppy live on air.

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It didn’t take long for fans to rush straight to X, formerly known as , to share their reaction. One fan asked: "Where's your poppy Charlene????????? #LooseWomen."

Another said: “So what acceptable reason has Charlene got to NOT wear a poppy like most people would.” A third commented: “Anyone know why Charlene isn’t wearing a poppy?”

Meanwhile one viewer leaped to Charlene’s defence and said: “The poppy police are pathetic, bet there the same people who usually harp on about free speech yet they can’t handle someone not wearing a poppy #LooseWomen.”

However Charlene has previously revealed the real reason behind her decision not to wear a poppy as she admitted that she feels ‘uncomfortable’ supporting just one charity above others.

She also said that the racist and sexist abuse that she receives made the decision even more difficult. The TV presenter explained: “I support and am patron of a number of charities, and due to impartiality rules, I am not allowed to visually support them all whilst presenting news programmes. That includes things like a red ribbon for World Aids Day, or a purple band for Bowel Cancer Awareness Month.

"Both these and many more charities do great things in the UK, but I'm not allowed to give them exposure on screen. So I feel uncomfortable supporting just one charity above all others, namely The Royal British Legion, but I fully support my colleagues who do choose to wear the poppy on screen.”

However, she went on to say that she continues to wear a poppy when she isn't on screen. "In my private life, it's very different. I wear a poppy on Armistice Day - in fact I wear one that my friend Jen's mum knitted for me a few years ago, she explained. “And I proudly have one of the ceramic poppies from the Tower Of London on my mantelpiece.

“So please don't think that I don't support the work that our service personnel do, or that I don't understand the sacrifices made by servicemen and women 100 years ago. I do.”

Charlene explained that her dad and uncle were part of the armed forces and she made it clear that she thinks it's important to fight for freedom of speech.

She said: “I come from a Forces family. My Dad served in the RAF, and my uncle served in the Army. When I first decided not to wear the poppy on screen, I spoke to both of them to make sure they were okay with it. And they both support my decision.

Charlene added: "It is always important to remember what my family, your family, and millions of people over many generations have fought for: the right to choose, and the right of freedom of speech and expression."

Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 12.30pm