Tributes to a 'truly special man' as death of tormented star is probed

Published on Monday 14 April 2008 22:50

WITH his offbeat take on the world and a seemingly inexhaustible ability to entertain and inspire, Mark Speight won many friends and a fanbase of millions of children.

But in the final weeks of his life, the television presenter became haunted by the loss of his fiance. In the end, it was to prove too much.

As an investigation got under way yesterday into how the 42-year-old's body was able to hang from a roof next to a London railway station for up to six days without being discovered, his friends and family paid tribute to his talent.

Speight was found hanging in a building adjacent to Paddington railway station, police confirmed yesterday. It is believed he gained access to the partially disused office block before taking his own life.

An ever-present figure on the BBC since 1994, Speight's big break came when he found a novel use for his degree in art as the presenter of SMart, the children's art programme.

He went on to front several other popular shows, such as Scratchy And Co, Blue Peter and See It Saw It, where he first met Natasha Collins, in 1999.

He toured with art workshops for children, called 'Speight of the Art', usually waiving a fee, and became president of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.

He also enjoyed occasional presenting stints outside children's television, such as for the Heaven And Earth Show.

However, Speight discovered Ms Collins, his fiance, with burns to 60 per cent of her body at their London home on 3 January and was arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying class-A drugs.

Though Scotland Yard said last month that he would not face charges, the pain of losing Ms Collins was too much for the presenter.

Mark French, a friend of Speight, said last night: "The crazy guy you saw on screen rolled over into real life 100 per cent. He always did funny faces, talked in funny voices.

"We were at a pool party and he found these scraps of clothes. He suddenly appeared, wearing this ridiculous outfit and riding a kid's bike straight into the pool. He did that just for fun."

Mr French said the death of Ms Collins caused Speight insurmountable grief, adding: "He just wanted to lock himself away. It just got too much for the man."

Reported missing last Monday, Speight had been dropped off at Wood Green Station in north London that morning and was due to meet Carmen Collins, his fiance's mother.

However, he never showed up, and was recorded on CCTV entering Queen's Park Tube Station at 2:25pm. He was seen 22 minutes later, boarding a south-bound train on the Bakerloo Line.

Speight was later seen in Kilburn by two police officers who said, after he had been reported missing, that he seemed "distracted and deep in thought". They had asked him if he wanted medical assistance, but he declined. It was the last time he was seen alive.

Kirsten O'Brien, his co-presenter on SMart, said yesterday that Speight was "the funniest man I've ever known".

She added: "Filming days were a joy as Mark would often have the crew and I doubled up with laughter, and that showed on screen.

"As well as his fantastic art skills, Mark had a childlike enthusiasm for life, which made him a hit with young viewers."

Mrs Collins also spoke of her heartbreak at losing Speight and her daughter.

She said: "We were devastated to lose Natasha earlier this year and for Mark to have now died is so tragic.

"Mark was a truly special person and his loving nature and kind heart made such a difference to our lives.

We were privileged to have had him in our lives."

BID TO TRACE LAST MOVEMENTS

BRITISH Transport Police (BTP) last night said they were investigating how Mark Speight came to die in a building next to Paddington Station, and are looking at CCTV footage to try and trace his last movements.

Speight was reported missing last Monday, and concerns were raised over his welfare following the death of his fiance, Natasha Collins, earlier this year.

His body was only discovered on Sunday morning in MacMillan House by a member of Network Rail staff.

While results of a post-mortem examination are due to be released today, it is expected police will rule out suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

Simon Lubin, a spokesman for BTP, dismissed reports suggesting Speight was found on the second floor of its own offices.

He said: "That is totally wrong. He was found hanging on the roof of MacMillan House, which is a six-storey building.

"He was found by Network Rail maintenance staff on top of the building. There are various structures up there to do with maintenance and lift shafts, as on any large building."

BTP will investigate how Speight got into the building – and why he was not found for almost a week.