DAVID ESSEX insulted the brownies when he said they gave him the V-sign during his performance as Captain Hook in the Peter Pan pantomime at Darlington Civic Theatre (Echo, Feb 15).

We go every year with our two grandchildren to see the pantomime and he has been the worst villain ever.

He put no effort at all into the character. You could see that he was not at all interested in playing the part, just waiting to get off the stage.

It was the first time that we have seen people leave the theatre before the show had finished.

What a waste of money he was.

Please don’t have him back again.

David Johnson, Bishop Auckland.