At last, the Daily Mail's annual outrage over BBC presenters donning their poppies too late has been eclipsed. Enormous congratulations to that same newspaper, which last week placed itself several dimensions beyond parody with a story beginning: "The BBC is under fire for allowing presenters such as Andrew Marr and Clare Balding to wear poppies too early."
Too early, if you please! Honestly, Auntie, you'd have more luck appeasing Mr Hitler than you would Mr Dacre.
But it is another poppy-related story in this week's Mail that catches the eye, revealing as it does that the Swarovski-encrusted, designer poppies worn by the X Factor judges, the Saturdays and sundry other "stars" retail at a cool £84.99.
Is that entirely seemly? In the many media outings the brooch has secured them, the jewelled poppy's designers stress that all profits go to the Royal British Legion. But if we assume the profits are considerably less than the 85 quid outlay, one can't help but wonder whether the celebs in question shouldn't just donate the full £84.99 sum to the legion and make do with a paper version like your average civilian.
Doubtless, there's a simple answer to this puzzle, so Cheryl and Co are hereby invited to get in touch with it. Inquiring minds want to know.
