BBC Children's TV Presenter Mark Speight Killed Himself, Coroner Rules

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UK news This article is more than 17 years oldBBC children’s TV presenter Mark Speight killed himself, coroner rulesThis article is more than 17 years old

Presenter took his own life at a west London railway station, a coroner has ruled

Leigh Holmwood and agenciesTue 20 May 2008 12.27 BSTShare

BBC children’s television presenter Mark Speight committed suicide by hanging himself at a west London railway station, a coroner ruled today.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said the 42-year-old was “devastated” by the death of his fiancee Natasha Collins in January, adding that his subsequent suicide in April was a “tragedy”.

Police spent six days searching for the former presenter of the CBBC art show Smart after he was reported missing last month.

He was found in a building next to the main Paddington railway station on April 13.

Speight had been left reeling by the death of Collins, 31, at the flat they shared in St John’s Wood, north-west London.

He was initially arrested in connection with her death and over drugs allegations but no charges were brought.

Following Collins’ death, Speight moved in with her mother, Carmen, who later told police he had disappeared.

An earlier hearing at Westminster coroner’s court heard that Speight had left two suicide notes - one found on the presenter’s person and another in a flat.

At the inquest into Collins’s death, a coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.

At his funeral in Wolverhampton last month, Speight’s father Oliver described him as a Pied Piper figure who took youngsters on a “magical mystery tour” of art.

Speight’s father said more than 7,000 children had contacted the BBC after his death.

• In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email [email protected] or [email protected]. The charity Mind is available on 0300 123 3393 and ChildLine on 0800 1111. In the US, Mental Health America is available on 800-273-8255. In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 or chat for support. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org

• This article was amended on 16 and 17 June 2022 to take into account guidelines on the reporting of suicide that were in place at the time of publication and to add the helpline numbers.

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