The One Show has been accused of 'trivialising' the sacrifice of millions of soldiers after a children's puppet appeared on the programme wearing a poppy.

The Cookie Monster, a character from American television show Sesame Street, had the scarlet flower pinned to his bright blue fur as he was interviewed on the BBC programme last night.

Today, Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, called the move 'disgraceful' and said it 'trivialised' the sacrifice made by those who have died for their country.

Viewers at home were equally outraged with hundreds taking to social media to criticise the BBC for their 'farcical' decision.

The Cookie Monster, a character from American television show Sesame Street, had the scarlet flower pinned to his bright blue fur as he was interviewed on the BBC programme

The puppet was on the show to discuss sightseeing in London and British biscuits while promoting Sesame Street.

The poppy has been intrinsic to remembering victims of conflict since First World War, and while many television presenters and their guests wear a poppy in the run up to Armistice Day, on November 11, many thought the BBC show's producers had gone too far this time.

Mr McGovern told MailOnline: 'This is clearly setting a bad example for children. What is this telling them about the poppy - that it's insignificant and somehow funny?

'To put the poppy on a puppet trivialises what the poppy stands for - it's totally inappropriate. It needs to be worn with respect - it's not a fashion accessory, it's a serious statement which remembers those who gave up their lives for this country.

Pitt The Blogger wrote: 'Wait a second, they stuck a poppy on the Cookie Monster??'

'I think it is disrespectful. The puppets are funny, comedic creatures, so this is trivialising the poppy.

'Putting it on a fluffy cuddly toy is sending out the wrong message to children. Not many people know this but teaching the history of the First and Second World War is not comoulsory in schools - so if children aren't obliged to learn about the poppy in school and they see it being worn by a puppet of course they are not going to understand what it is about.

'So in many way it's not just the BBC to blame, but the government too.'

Meanwhile, hundreds of viewers took to social media to express their shock at the move.

One said: 'Hard to get your head around the mentality that thinks there's a need to pin a poppy on Cookie Monster.'

Another added: 'Nice to see that Cookie Monster is paying respects to the fallen. Seriously though, why does the puppet have a poppy on? It's a puppet…'

Along with a picture of Cookie Monster wearing a poppy, another added: 'No words.'

Meanwhile, hundreds of viewers took to social media to express their shock at the move

The poppy has been used to remember fallen soliders ever since Colonel John McCrae wrote of poppies that 'blow between the crosses, row on row' in his 1915 poem In Flanders Fields.

The flower, either real, silk or paper, has been worn around Armistice Day since the early Twenties and 30million are still made every year.

Last week the Royal British Legion has written an open letter to Fifa urging it to lift its ban on the England and Scotland national football teams wearing the poppy.

The football associations of both nations have vowed to defy the ban by world football's governing body, saying players will wear poppies on black armbands during their Armistice Day World Cup qualifier at Wembley.

Fifa has insisted that the laws of the game, which prohibit political messages from players' kit, mean poppies cannot be worn at the November 11 fixture.

A spokesman for The Royal British Legion, said: 'There is no right or wrong way to wear a poppy, and we are grateful for every poppy worn.'

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for a comment.