Friend backs Speight over death

Close friend of Mark Speight, Stu "Goldcrusher" Goldsmith, says his pal he would "never have hurt a hair on the head" of his fiancee.

Stu met up with Mark and Natasha in Birmingham last year when they opened a new interactive gallery.

"Mark is a great bloke and he and Natasha were so happy together," said Stu, a strongman who lives in Tettenhall, where he and Mark grew up together.

"He is a genuinely nice guy and what has happened is awful. Tash was a fantastic girl and they seemed perfect for each other.

Stu met Mark - known as Speighty to his friends - when they were teenagers at Regis School in Tettenhall, which is now named Kings.

"We met soon after Speighty joined after leaving Tettenhall College," said Stu.

"He was always acting the fool and everyone loved him for it. We became firm friends and still are to this day."

The pair would regularly hit the pubs of Tettenhall. "We used to get up to the usual, drinking and smoking like everyone did," said Stu. "But we also liked to keep fit and we did boxing and strongman training together," he recalled.

Everyone knew of Mark's desire to be famous, so no one was surprised when he was selected to be a contestant on Blind Date in his 20s.

"He was one of three that get picked but he stood out a mile because he kept doing his impressions and facial expressions," said Stu.

"From that he went into television work and has just gone from strength to strength."

Stu said he had tried to get in touch with Mark since hearing about his arrest.

"No one's been able to speak to him," he said. "He's not gone back to his flat because he knows the newspapers will be waiting for him.

"As far as as I know he has gone away to get away from it all. I cannot imagine what he must be going through after losing Tash and I just hope he is ok."

Mark has been bailed until early February on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs. The 42-year-old, who is best known for the BBC children's show SMart, said in a statement he was "absolutely distraught" by what had happened and denied having any involvement.