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Friday, 4 January 2008, 15:08 GMT

CBBC star 'distraught' over death

Mark Speight has also appeared on CBeebies' Smarteenies
Mark Speight BBC children's presenter Mark Speight, who was quizzed by police over the death of his fiancee, is said to be "absolutely distraught" by his loss.

He denies having had anything to do with Natasha Collins' death, according to a statement released on his behalf.

Mr Speight was arrested on Thursday after finding the 31-year-old actress dead in the couple's London flat.

He has been bailed until the first week of February on suspicion of murder and supplying cocaine.

"Mark has been questioned by the police on account of the fact that the body of his fiancee was found in the flat they shared," the statement reads.

"At the moment no one knows what happened"
Mark Speight statement

"At the moment no one knows what happened. Mark found her body in the bathroom and immediately called an ambulance and the police.

"Mark was the only other person present in the flat and has therefore been questioned by police as a matter of course."

A post mortem examination will be carried out later, but the death is being treated as "unexplained", a police spokesman said.

'Devastated'

Natasha Collins Mr Speight, who was born and raised in Wolverhampton, is best known for CBBC programme SMart, which he has hosted since 1995.

The BBC has cancelled Saturday morning's repeat edition on the CBBC channel.

The presenter has also appeared on the BBC's religious show Heaven and Earth and ITV1's This Morning.

He worked with Ms Collins, 31, on the BBC children's series See It Saw It.

The actress and model was represented by the HandE casting agency, which has paid tribute to her in a statement.

"We are shocked and devastated that Natasha has passed away and we offer our support and condolences to her family and friends," it said.

"She was a wonderful, confident young lady and her beauty was inside and out."



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Related to this story:
Mark Speight: Statement in full (04 Jan 08 |  UK )

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