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18:19 GMT, Monday, 28 April 2008 19:19 UK

Funeral for hanged TV presenter

The coffin being carried into the church

Hundreds of people have attended the funeral of TV presenter Mark Speight, who was found hanged in central London.

The 42-year-old was said to have been devastated by the death of his fiancee.

The funeral service was held in Wolverhampton, where Mr Speight was raised and educated. His father Oliver paid tribute to his son in the eulogy.

The coffin was carried out of St Michael and All Angels' Church, Tettenhall, to the theme tune of SMart, the children's arts show he presented.

Friends and family gathered for the service before attending a private cremation in the city.

Fiancee's death

They were joined by several of Mr Speight's colleagues from the television industry, including Timmy Mallett and Mr Speight's co-presenter on SMart, Kirsten O'Brien.

The choir from Mr Speight's old school, Tettenhall College, sang at the service.

Mr Speight's father said his son had always had a special talent for making people laugh and smile.

He said the television presenter was a Pied Piper figure who took youngsters on a "magical mystery tour" of art. Mark Speight

His father said the family had been moved by the number of emails the BBC had received from children expressing sympathy at the death.

"You leave here with the adoration of those 7,000 children that emailed the BBC and who miss you today - sleep well in eternity, you have earned your rest," he said.

The vicar of St Michael and All Angels', Rev Margaret Mattocks, said Mr Speight's death had been tragic, adding that no amount of tears were enough to express the pain felt by those who knew him.

A suicide note was found on Mr Speight's body when it was discovered on the roof of a building next to Paddington Station on 13 April.

A post-mortem examination revealed the cause of death was hanging and police said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

A full inquest will open in May.

Mr Speight's 31-year-old partner Natasha Collins died at the flat they shared in St John's Wood, north-west London, in January.

She had taken cocaine, sleeping tablets and alcohol and was found with 60% burns from hot water in a bath.

Mr Speight was arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs, but no charges were brought.

He left his presenting job with the BBC in February.




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Related to this story:
TV presenter left suicide notes (16 Apr 08 |  London )
Obituary: Mark Speight (14 Apr 08 |  Entertainment )
TV host Mark Speight 'found dead' (13 Apr 08 |  Entertainment )
Family plea to missing presenter (08 Apr 08 |  London )
Fiancee death presenter missing (08 Apr 08 |  London )
Actress died after taking drugs (02 Apr 08 |  London )

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