Mother of Speight dies at 62

The mother of children's TV star Mark Speight, who killed himself over the death of his sweetheart, has been found dead at her Wolverhampton home.

The loss of Jacqui Speight has triggered fears that the grieving divorcee had succumbed to a broken heart after her 42-year-old's son's death in April.

Mark, who fronted BBC art show SMart, was found hanged at Paddington train station five days into the inquest on his fiancee, presenter Natasha Collins.

She had died in a bath of boiling hot water in January at their London home following a cocaine and alcohol binge.

Mark was initially arrested on suspicion of her murder but the allegations were later dropped.

Former art teacher Mrs Speight, 62, was discovered by her youngest son Jason at her home in Mill Lane, Tettenhall Wood, yesterday. It is thought she may have suffered a stroke. She also leaves a daughter, Tina.

Mrs Speight's former husband Oliver, a property developer from Sutton Coldfield, told the Express & Star: "We are all just overwhelmed by the shock of this.

"The stress and strain over Mark's death may well have played a part in this but this is pure speculation at the moment because we do not yet know the cause of death."

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.

She said afterwards: "It made me realise just how much he was loved."

Mrs Speight was a devoted member of Wolverhampton Spiritualist Church and spoke of the strength her faith gave her during the terrible ordeal that enveloped her son and Miss Collins.

With her former husband, she launched a charitable foundation in Mark's honour called SP8 of the Art aimed at helping youngsters develop artistic talents.

By John Scott