Leyton strictly hate mail

The infamous "Hate Mail" from the BBC's Strictly Come Dancing, specifically from the judges' table, aimed at Leyton Hewitt, a contestant on the show in 2004.

For those who may not know, Leyton Hewitt is an Australian professional tennis player who appeared on Strictly Come Dancing in 2004. Unfortunately, his dancing skills didn't quite match his tennis prowess, and he received some... let's say, "constructive criticism" from the judges.

The "Hate Mail" in question was a tongue-in-cheek, humorous response from the judges, particularly Craig Revel Horwood, to Leyton's performances. It was meant to be lighthearted and playful, but it did spark some controversy at the time.

The "Hate Mail" was a series of mock letters, written in a humorous, over-the-top style, criticizing Leyton's dancing. Some examples include:

• "Dear Leyton, I'm writing to inform you that your dancing is so bad, it's making me want to cry. Yours sincerely, Craig Revel Horwood."
• "Dear Leyton, I've seen better dancing at a wedding reception. Yours sincerely, Arlene Phillips."
• "Dear Leyton, I'm not sure what's more painful, watching you dance or listening to your singing. Yours sincerely, Bruno Tonioli."

While the "Hate Mail" was intended to be humorous, it did receive some backlash from viewers who felt it was too harsh or mean-spirited. However, in hindsight, it's clear that the judges were just trying to have a bit of fun and poke fun at Leyton's, ahem, limited dancing abilities.

In the end, Leyton Hewitt took the "Hate Mail" in stride and even laughed about it in interviews. And who knows, maybe it added to his Strictly Come Dancing experience!