Susie Dent received fan mail written in blood.

Susie Dent

Susie Dent

Countdown's Dictionary Corner star has admitted she was disturbed by the bizarre note, which left her feeling "dizzy" when she realised what she had been sent.

She is quoted by the Daily Mirror newspaper as saying "It made me dizzy thinking about it. It was a slightly strange one."

Her unusual experience comes after the Channel 4 teatime quiz's host Nick Hewer admitted he once received a pair of racy knickers from one admirer.

Speaking on the show, he told co-star Rachel Riley: "They were red net. I gave them to one of the ladies in the gallery and we didn't see her for three days."

However, Susie revealed she's not experienced that, although she suggested the programme's team do a good job of checking post before mail is passed on.

She added: "I've certainly not had any knickers - male or otherwise - that I know of. The team are wonderful, I think they probably check things before they pass them on."

'Countdown', which was originally hosted by Richard Whiteley with Carol Vorderman as his sidekick, first hit television screens when the network began in November 1982.

It was confirmed last year the programme had been commissioned until 2019, with Channel 4 bosses calling for around 260 episodes a year.

Nick revealed at the time: "The show is doing great. I don't know about the opposition from other shows as scheduling is a mystery to me. All I know is that C4 want 260 shows a year which is more than [2016] so obviously they are happy."