Skip Channel4 main Navigation

|Powered By Google


Skip to main content

Last Modified: 08 Apr 2008
By: Lucy Manning

The children's TV presenter Mark Speight, whose girlfriend died after taking drugs, is missing. Lucy Manning reports

Mark Speight and Natasha Collins were full of fun on children's TV - but Miss Collins was found dead in the bath after taking cocaine and now her fiancée is missing.

Mr Speight, described as vulnerable, was last seen yesterday morning at Wood Green station in north London and his friends and family are now concerned about his welfare.

It was at their home in St John's Wood where Natasha Collins' body was discovered - with hot water burns covering 60 per cent of her body. Mark Speight was arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying drugs but never charged.

Just six days ago the coroner at her inquest recorded a verdict of misadventure saying she had very significant amounts of cocaine in her body.

After her death Mark Speight announced he was quitting the BBC programme he#d presented for more than a decade, he said he was unable to continue after his tragic loss.

Mr Speight's agent said he hadn't worked since then but they were in regular contact with him but he had been in a distressed state.

The 42-year-old had recently been staying with Natasha Collins' mother - who only yesterday in a newspaper interview described how she heard him crying at night.



Anybody who has seen him is asked to call Enfield police on 020 8807 1212.

He is described as about 6ft tall, slim, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

He was last seen wearing a brown suit jacket, dark jeans and a brown flat cap.

A Yard spokeswoman said police and Speight's friends and family wee concerned for his welfare.

Speight, originally from Wolverhampton, is best known for the BBC children's art show SMart, which has run for more than 10 years.

In February he announced he was quitting the programme after his "tragic loss" left him unable to continue.

Speight shot to fame as the rubber-faced presenter of Children's ITV Saturday morning show Scratchy & Co. Collins starred alongside him on BBC children's show See It Saw It.

Anybody who has seen him is asked to call Enfield police on 020 8807 1212.