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| DEAD | |||
| {{Recent death|date=April 2008}} | |||
| {{Infobox Actor | |||
| | name = Mark Speight | |||
| | image = | |||
| | imagesize = | |||
| | caption = | |||
| | birthdate = {{birth date |1965|8|6}} | |||
| | birthplace = ], ], ] | |||
| | deathdate = ] ] (Aged 42) | |||
| | yearsactive = 1994-2008 | |||
| | domesticpartner = ] | |||
| | deathplace = ], ] | |||
| | occupation = ] | |||
| }} | |||
| '''Mark Warwick Fordham Speight''' (] ]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/14/db1402.xml |title=Mark Speight |publisher='']'' |date=2008-04-13 |accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> – ] ]) was a ] ]. He was best known for presenting the long-running ] children's art programme '']''. | |||
| In January 2008, Speight discovered the body of his fiancée and former colleague ] at their London flat. He was arrested in connection with the death, but released without charge. On ] ], Speight was reported missing by family and friends, after having failed to attend a meeting the day before. On ], a body which ] believe to be Speight's was found hanged on a building next to London's ]. | |||
| ==Biography== | |||
| Speight was born in ], ] in 1965, and grew up in ], ]. Speight briefly attended ] and later Regis Comprehensive school (now King's ] School, ]), and left school aged 16.<ref name="icBirmingham">{{cite news | |||
| | last = Parkes | |||
| | first = Diane | |||
| | title = Telly star Mark a victim of bullies | |||
| | work = icBirmingham | |||
| | publisher = Midland Newspapers | |||
| | date = 2005-09-16 | |||
| | url = http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/campaigns/tm_headline=telly-star-mark-a-victim-of-bullies%26method=full%26objectid=16138532%26siteid=50002-name_page.html | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-01-08}}</ref> | |||
| ===Television=== | |||
| After a degree in ] and ] Speight made his entry into television presenting after hearing about auditions for '']'' while working on the ] of a television production.<ref name="Bucks">{{cite news | |||
| | last = Dakin | |||
| | first = Melanie | |||
| | title = CBBC SMart host Mark Speight draws the crowds at The Watersmeet | |||
| | work = Bucks Free Press | |||
| | publisher = Newsquest Media Group | |||
| |date=] | |||
| | url = http://www.thisisbucks.co.uk/leisure/pantoguide/pantointerviews/display.var.1887408.0.cbbc_smart_host_mark_speight_draws_the_crowds_at_the_watersmeet.php | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-01-04}}</ref> He went on to present ''SMart'' with various co-presenters from its start in ] until 2008. He achieved further fame while starring in ]-nominated ITV Saturday morning show '']'' in the mid 1990s.<ref>{{cite news | |||
| | last = Stratton | |||
| | first = Allegra | |||
| | title = BBC star bailed after death of girlfriend | |||
| | work = Guardian Unlimited | |||
| | publisher = Guardian News and Media | |||
| |date=] | |||
| | url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2235391,00.html | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-01-05}}</ref> | |||
| Speight worked on numerous other shows, ranging from ] to adult factual programmes. Mark played the Abominable No Man in ]'s ''Timmy Towers''. He hosted the series '']'', '']'', '']'' and, for ], ''History Busters'', which won a ] Award,<ref name="MEN">{{cite news | |||
| | title = RTS Awards - the winners | |||
| | work = Manchester Evening News | |||
| | publisher = M.E.N. media | |||
| |date=2003-11-17 | |||
| | url = http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/73/73232_rts_awards__the_winners.html | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-01-05}}</ref> and made appearances on '']'', '']'', '']'' and '']'', and was also a contestant in ITV's '']''.<ref>{{cite news | |||
| | last =Bishop | |||
| | first = Tom | |||
| | title = ITV wrestles for Saturday ratings | |||
| | work = BBC News | |||
| | publisher = BBC | |||
| |date=2005-04-14 | |||
| | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_and_radio/4440957.stm | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-01-04}}</ref> | |||
| ===Other work=== | |||
| Speight regularly toured with ''Speight of the Art'', art workshops he ran for children,<ref name="Bucks"/> and was involved in charity work, notably as President of the ].<ref name="Marsh">{{cite web | |||
| | title = Mark Speight | |||
| | publisher = Billy Marsh Associates | |||
| | url = http://www.billymarsh.co.uk/mark-speight.htm | |||
| | accessdate = 2008-01-05}}</ref> During the ] period, he usually became involved in ], and performed in ''Cinderella'' at the Watersmeet, Rickmansworth in December 2007.<ref name="Bucks"/> | |||
| ===Arrest and disappearance=== | |||
| On the morning of ] ], Speight called emergency services having discovered the body of his fiancée and former ''See It Saw It'' colleague in the bath of their London flat.<ref name="missing"/> Speight told police that he and Collins had spent the previous evening "partying" and had taken cocaine and sleeping pills, wine and vodka.<ref name="times">{{cite news | url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and_radio/article3704273.ece | title=TV star Mark Speight 'missing' after fiancee Natasha Collins' inquest | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-13}}</ref> Speight was subsequently arrested on suspicion of murder and of supplying ] and released on bail.<ref name="missing"/> An ] into the death, which opened on ] ], heard that that death was not thought to be suspicious, but that it should be "subject to further investigation".<ref>{{cite news | title=Presenter death 'not suspicious' | publisher=] | date=] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7176552.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-08}}</ref> At that point, police were awaiting results of ] tests after a ] examination proved inconclusive.<ref name="Postmortem">{{cite news | last = Ryan| first = Rosalind| title = Postmortem on Speight's fiancee inconclusive' | work = Guardian Unlimited | publisher = Guardian News and Media | date = 2008-01-07| url =http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk_news/story/0,,2236805,00.html?gusrc=rss&feed=media | accessdate = 2008-01-07}}</ref> Speight denied any involvement with Collins's death,<ref>{{cite news | title = CBBC star 'distraught' over death | publisher = ] |date=] | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7171292.stm | accessdate = 2008-01-04}}</ref> and on ] ] it was reported that no further police action would be taken.<ref name="coroner"/> The BBC cancelled repeat broadcasts of ''SMart'' and ''SMarteenies'' until further notice,<ref name="Postmortem"/> and on ] ] Speight announced he was quitting the programme ''Smart'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7269389.stm|title=CBBC star leaves show over death|publisher=]|date=] | accessdate=2008-02-29}}</ref> because the "tragic loss" of Collins had left him unable to continue with the show.<ref name="missing"/>. | |||
| In April 2008, the coroner recorded a verdict of "death by misadventure" in the case of Collins' death. The inquest found that she had taken "very significant" amounts of cocaine with sleeping pills and vodka, and that she had suffered 60% burns to her body.<ref name="coroner">{{cite news | title=Actress died after taking drugs | publisher=] | date=] | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7326226.stm | accessdate = 2008-04-13}} </ref> The pathologist gave the cause of death as cocaine toxicity and immersion in hot water. The coroner noted that at some stage in the night after both Speight and Collins had gone to bed, Collins got up to have a bath. He said that it was "more likely than not" that a heart problem had caused Collins to fall unconscious while the hot tap was running.<ref name="times"/> | |||
| On ] ], Speight was reported missing by family and friends after failing to attend a meeting on the afternoon of ]. He was dropped off at ], London in the morning,<ref name="missing">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7335912.stm | title=Fiancee death presenter missing | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-08 }}</ref> and last seen in the afternoon boarding a ] train.<ref name="bakerloo">{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7342484.stm | title=TV presenter 'had memorial plans' | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-11 }}</ref> On ], both his mother and the mother of Natasha Collins made a public appeal in which they urged him to make contact.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7336981.stm | title=Family plea to missing presenter | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-08 }}</ref> Speight's father has also appealed for him to get in touch.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7344864.stm | title=Missing star told 'don't give up' | publisher=BBC News Online | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-13 }}</ref> Police confirmed that they had spoken to Speight on the day of his disappearance, saying he appeared "distracted". Speight reportedly refused all offers of help when approached by police.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7337977.stm | title=Police spoke to missing presenter | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-12 }}</ref> | |||
| ===Death=== | |||
| On ] ] the ] said the body of a man found hanged in a building adjacent to ] on the morning of the previous day was that of Mark Speight.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7345486.stm | title= TV host Mark Speight 'found dead' | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-13 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/7346909.stm | title= TV presenter 'was found hanged' | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-14 }}</ref> The body is to be formally identified by Speight's family and a ] is due to take place at a later date.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5ghWkQCFiH3eazmEsPActfFxeg3Pg | title= Postmortem due on TV presenter Speight | publisher=] | date=] | accessdate=2008-04-14 }}</ref> An inquest into the death of Speight will open on ]. The police added that investigations into ] footage at the station were continuing. | |||
| ==References== | |||
| {{reflist}} | |||
| ==External links== | |||
| * at Billy Marsh Associates | |||
| *{{imdb|id=1217981|name=Mark Speight}} | |||
| * at ] | |||
| * | |||
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Speight, Mark}} | |||
| ] | |||
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Revision as of 15:28, 14 April 2008
DEAD