An inquest into the death of Jacqui Speight, the mother of tragic Wolverhampton-born TV host Mark Speight, was opening today in the city.

Aromatherapist Mrs Speight, who was 62, was found dead at her home in Tettenhall Wood last Friday. She is thought to have suffered a stroke.

Former Regis School and Tettenhall College pupil Mark, who was 42 and the host of BBC art show SMart, was found hanged by his shoelaces in disused offices by Paddington Station in April.

It is thought the star had been unable to come to terms with the death of his partner Natasha Collins, who died in a bath of boiling hot water in January at their London home following a cocaine and alcohol binge.

Former art teacher Mrs Speight was discovered by her youngest son Jason at her home in Mill Lane. She also leaves a daughter, Tina.

Mrs Speight’s former husband Oliver, a property developer from Sutton Coldfield, said: “The stress and strain over Mark’s death may have played a part.”

Less than a month ago Mr Speight and his former wife had stood side by side at a memorial service for Mark at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, London on what would have been their son’s 43rd birthday.