Mark Speight facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mark Speight
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Speight in 2007
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Mark Warwick Fordham Speight
6 August 1965 Seisdon, Staffordshire, England
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| Died | 7 April 2008 (aged 42) Paddington, London, England
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| Resting place | St. Michael and All Angels Churchyard, Tettenhall, Metropolitan Borough of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, England |
| Occupation | Broadcaster, artist |
| Years active | 1994–2008 |
| Employer | BBC |
| Television | SMart SMarteenies Scratchy & Co. See It Saw It |
| Partner(s) | Natasha Collins (2005–2008) (her death) |
Mark Warwick Fordham Speight (born August 6, 1965 – died April 7, 2008) was a famous English TV presenter. He was best known for hosting the popular children's art show SMart.
Mark was born in Seisdon, Staffordshire. He left school at 16 to follow his dream of becoming a cartoonist. He later studied commercial and graphic art. While working on TV sets, he heard about auditions for a new children's art program. Mark got the job and became one of the first presenters of SMart. He worked on the show for 14 years!
Mark also presented See It Saw It. There, he met actress and model Natasha Collins, who later became his fiancée. He also took part in live art events. These included Rolf on Art and his own "Speight of the Art" workshops for kids. Mark cared about helping others. He was president of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Young Pavement Artists Competition. He was also a spokesperson for ChildLine, a helpline for children.
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Mark Speight's Early Life
Mark Speight was born in Seisdon, Staffordshire. He grew up in the village of Tettenhall, Wolverhampton. He had two siblings, Tina-Louise and Jason. His father, Oliver, was a property developer. His mother, Jacqueline, was an art teacher.
Mark went to Tettenhall College for a year. Then, at age 12, he moved to Regis School, a state comprehensive school. This school is now called King's C.E. School. Mark once said he was a slow learner at school. He found it hard to pay attention. Art was a way for him to express himself. He also mentioned being bullied, which made him become the "class joker." Mark left school at 16. He then went to Bilston Art School. There, he earned a degree in commercial and graphic art.
Mark Speight's TV Career
Mark first wanted to be a cartoonist. But he became a TV presenter instead. This happened after he got a job painting a TV show set. He auditioned for SMart and got the role. He met his future co-presenter, Jay Burridge, during the interview. Mark started presenting SMart from its very first episode in 1994.
Mark and Jay became close friends. Jay's art studio was used to create all the art for SMart. Jay said they would share ideas and jokes all day. They knew what made each other laugh almost without speaking. Other presenters joined them over the years. These included Zoe Ball, Josie d'Arby, Kirsten O'Brien, and Lizi Botham. Mark, Jay, Kirsten, and Lizi also presented spin-off shows. These were SMart on the Road and SMarteenies. They also did many live events. Mark also appeared on the BAFTA-nominated show Scratchy & Co. from 1995 to 1998.
Other TV Shows and Projects
Mark worked on many different TV shows. He did children's programs and shows for adults. For kids, he played the "Abominable No Man" in Timmy Towers. He also presented Beat the Cyborgs, Name That Toon, On Your Marks, Insides Out, and History Busters. History Busters even won a Royal Television Society Award!
Mark also appeared on adult shows like This Morning and The Heaven and Earth Show. He was a contestant on Gladiators and Celebrity Wrestling. Mark played the king on the children's show See It Saw It. This is where he met Natasha Collins. Mark started dating Natasha in 2003. They got engaged in Barbados in 2005. They even joked about having monkeys at their wedding, as monkeys were his favorite animal!
In 2004, Mark joined Rolf Harris for Rolf on Art. For this project, a huge copy of The Hay Wain painting was made in Trafalgar Square. In 2005, he helped recreate other famous paintings. These included Hans Holbein's portrait of Henry VIII. He also helped recreate Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa at Edinburgh Castle.
Mark often toured with "Speight of the Art." These were art workshops he ran for children. During Christmas, he performed in pantomime. He played "Buttons" in Cinderella in December 2007.
Charity Work
Mark was very involved in charity work. He was the President of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign's Young Pavement Artists Competition. This project was supposed to last one year but went on for eight years! He was also a spokesperson for ChildLine. In 2007, he presented the Müller Big Art Project for Comic Relief in Trafalgar Square.
Mark Speight's Passing
On January 3, 2008, Mark Speight found his fiancée, Natasha Collins, had passed away. This was a very sad and difficult time for him. Mark went missing soon after this event. His body was found on April 13, 2008.
Mark's funeral was held on April 28 at St Michael and All Angels' Church in Tettenhall. Many people came to remember him. The choir from Tettenhall College, his old school, performed. His coffin was carried out of the church to the theme song of SMart. He was later cremated. His ashes were placed in Tettenhall. An investigation later confirmed that Mark was very sad and depressed after Natasha's death.
In May 2008, Mark's father started a foundation. It is called "Speight of the Art," or "SP8 of the Art." It was launched on what would have been Mark's 43rd birthday, August 6, 2008. A special memorial service was held at St Paul's Church in London.
See also
- List of solved missing person cases
