R.I.P Mark Speight

Children’s TV presenter Mark Speight has been found dead.

The 42 year-old’s body was discovered at 10am on Sunday in a remote area of Paddington Station, London after he went missing six days ago.

Now Magazine said:

”It is understood he [Speight] hanged himself and had not been hit by a train....A security camera caught Mark entering Queen's Park underground station where he travelled on the Bakerloo Line to Paddington. “

Police are currently trying to fit together Speight’s last moments together from the CCTV footage as they believe it will be significant.

Press Association reported:

“CCTV evidence could hold the key to the last movements of tormented children's TV presenter Mark Speight....Officers are investigating how Speight managed to access the partially-disused office block and apparently take his life.”

The presenter, famous for his artistic talents on children’s TV show SMart went missing on the 7^th April.

Matthew Hemley from The Stage believes it is linked to the death of his fiancée earlier this year.

He wrote:

“The presenter, 42, disappeared last week following a post-mortem into the death of his fiancee Natasha Collins, 31, who was found dead in the bath three months ago with 60% burns after taking cocaine and sleeping tablets.”

Speight was originally arrested after suspicions that he was involved in the TV personalities death. However he was released without charge.

The Mirror recollected a previous interview with the star.

"In his last interview, Mark told how life "will never be the same without Natasha". He added: A part of me died with her."

Tributes have pored in after news broke of the tragic death.

The Stage published a statement from Speight’s father, Oliver.

“Sincere thanks to the BBC, friends and colleagues together with all the children and families who have supported Mark throughout his career, and in particular during these recent difficult times…Mark was a wonderful son and brother to his family and he will be very sadly missed.”

They also included a few words from his agent, Jan Kennedy at Billy Marsh Associates.

“We are absolutely devastated at the tragic news of the loss of Mark and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family as well as the family of his beloved fiancee, Natasha, whose equally tragic death had affected him so inconsolably. Mark was blessed with a remarkable personality, great artistic talents and the wonderful warm ability to communicate those skills with people, especially children of all ages.”

Lawyer Nabeel Sheikh acknowledged the pain Speight had experienced over the loss of his fiancé.

The Mirror reported him as saying:

"He had real difficulties in coping with what happened to Natasha and as a result has taken his life…It was too much for him. I didn't think he was dealing with it well, that's been borne out by what has happened. It's an absolute tragedy. The loss of another young person's life.”

One of the TV presenters close friends, Timmy Mallot was shocked by the terrible news and payed tribute.

He told Bucks Free Press:

"Mark was a delight to work with and a joy to watch. He was a dear friend to myself and my family…It was a privilege to have known him and we enjoyed his company on the TV, on stage and in person as a friend. We adored Mark ... He played the brilliant Abominable No Man in our series of Timmy Towers shows for CITV. He brought the show to life with his great sense of fun and everyone who worked with him or watched him will miss him dreadfully….Mark was not always aware of all his talents. He worried about singing - but his outstanding rendition of Robbie Williams' Let me Entertain you will stand as a testament to that huge talent...Mark always entertained us and we are deeply saddened by this tragedy."

The British Transport Police have said that a formal identification would take place today and investigations are still going on as to how long the body was at the station.

R.I.P Mark Speight (1965 – 2008)