Relief as TV man is not a suspect

The mother of Wolverhampton children's TV presenter Mark Speight today spoke of her relief after police said he was no longer suspected of murder following the death of his fiancee.

Jackie Speight said she was "delighted" after the 42-year-old was no longer suspected of murder. He was arrested and bailed last week on suspicion of murder and supplying class A drugs after the body of fellow presenter Natasha Collins was discovered at the couple's home in north-west London.

He denies any involvement in the tragedy and a post-mortem examination on Monday proved inconclusive. Further toxicology tests are now being carried out to determine the cause of the 31-year-old's death.

Today police confirmed Speight was no longer suspected of murder although he will still remain on bail until February on suspicion of supplying drugs.

Speaking from her home in Tettenhall Wood today, Mrs Speight told the Express & Star: "Obviously I am delighted with the news.

"I have not been very well over the last few days and this has all been very hard to take. I cannot say very much at this stage but we are just so pleased."

Miss Collins was found dead in the bath at the couple's penthouse in St John's Wood last Thursday.

An inquest heard yesterday that her death was "non-suspicious at this stage".

It was reported that Collins had taken cocaine before her death but Mrs Speight speculated she may have died after taking drugs prescribed for a medical condition.

Speight is best known for presenting the BBC children's art show SMart and is a former Tettenhall College and Regis School pupil.

Wolverhampton strongman Stu 'Goldcrusher' Goldsmith, who attended Regis School in Tettenhall with Speight, said today he was "over the moon" for him.

"I never had a doubt in my mind that he had hurt Natasha," he said. "Now the important things need to be sorted out such as Natasha's funeral and he needs to begin piecing his life back together."

Today's police statement said the man in his 40s arrested at the scene had had his bail over suspicion of murder cancelled.