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BBC presenter Speight quits show following fiancee's death

29/02/2008

Children's TV presenter Mark Speight has quit CBBC show SMart after the death of his fiancee Natasha Collins.

The 42-year-old has said he feels unable to return to the show following the "tragic loss" of Ms Collins, whose body was discovered at the north London flat they shared in early January.

Speight was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying cocaine after the 31-year-old's body was found and bailed until the beginning of February.

However, a spokesperson for the Metropolitan police confirmed later that week that the man in his 40s who was arrested at the scene of the "unexplained" death has had his bail over suspicion of murder cancelled.

Speight is still on bail on suspicion of supplying class A drugs.

In a statement issued on Thursday, the CBBC presenter said: "The tragic loss of Tash has affected her family and me very deeply and therefore I feel unable to commit to the next series of SMart, which is about to start filming."

He added: "I do wish Kirsten [O'Brien, co-host] and all the team all the very best."

BBC children's entertainment head Joe Goodwin commented: "The next series of SMart is just about to go into production and, given Mark's recent terrible loss, we completely understand his decision. Everyone at CBBC wishes him well."

Speight, who met Ms Collins while filming CBBC show See It Saw It, has always denied responsibility over Ms Collins' death, and was said to be "distraught" upon his arrest.