Mark Speight found dead

[Del Lardo]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7345486.stm

Very sad state of affairs for both of the deceased and their familys.

I'm interested to hear peoples reactions on this forums but already on other forums I've been on people have been blaming drugs for both their deaths or labeling them as "druggy scum" who don't deserve our sympathy.

I think there has been far too much focus on the use of cocaine in this case rather than the abuse of cocains, alcohol and sleeping pills. 2 out of the 3 drugs that killed Natasha Collins are legal and and depressives. Personally I know what's more likely to make me fall asleep, a bag full of coke or vodka and sleeping pills.

Still Vodka and sleeping pills are legal and therefore socially acceptable. I hope that one good thing can come from this dreadful situation and that's a well thought out and informed debate on the UKs drugs policy.

[Pumpkinstew]

I was in Paddington Station tuesday afternoon.

That's a slightly creepy feeling.

[BBx]

:/

OMG

BB x

[Lomster]

:(

I liked SMARTeenies.

RIP Big Picture - Small Picture man.

[PvtPyle]

I think anyone who rolls out the "druggy scum" argument is simply ill-informed on the subject. Taking cocaine and sleeping pills whilst drinking vodka is not something you do socially, its not a bit of fun. Clearly both of them had some fairly serious issues that they were using drugs to escape and or deal with. Other people deal with emotional issues by not eating correctly, and eventually they will develop an eating disorder. Yet if someone who was anorexic killed themselves at Paddington Station, would the same "Drugs are bad mmmkay" lobby criticise them for being "non-eaty scum"? I suspect not.

The whole case is very tragic. It would be interesting to know, and I doubt we ever will, if Speight was tipped over the edge because he was originally brought in as a suspect in the death of his girlfriend. Or, would her sudden departure have had the same effect anyways?

It is a sad story, no more or less sad than the nameless non-celeb people who die every year from drug and alcohol overdoses, regardless of whether the drug in question is legal or otherwise.

[Jonny69]

I'm really upset by this story, it is tragic and yes drugs were involved but as has already been mentioned they must have had deeper problems than is visible on the surface. Another story like just this one that didn't get discussed very well on OcUK was the WWF wrestler Chris Benoit who murdered his family followed by himself. I think people are too quick to jump to conclusions and not look below the surface.

[PvtPyle]

The Chris Benoit thing was very dark. Was that motivated by drug abuse as well?

[Tak]

The Chris Benoit thing was very dark. Was that motivated by drug abuse as well?

I think it was suggested it was related to steroid induced paranoia or something similar.

[Snuggle Ferret]

I was really sad to hear about Mark S dying. I think the trauma of losing his girlfriend, being arrested for it (but being exonerated fully) and having mental and possibly drug issues just pushed him too far.

So sad :(

[Will]

I hadn't even heard of his other half, and didn't know who Mark was until I saw a pic on the website. I hadn't really been in touch with any of this :o I don't follow celebrity news that closesly, however this sort of story is very very sadenning - obviously he felt his life was torn apart and had no strength left in him to keep going. It's such a waste and such a shame.

I know some people here can relate to that feeling - I've been there myself and thankfully nothing serious happened - what a sad horrid world we live in :(

[Garp]

It's a shame. Whilst I was in hospital with lung op stuff I caught Smart and variants a few times. He came across as a perfect kids presenter, striking the right balance of enthusiasm with a very expressive face, and a great artistic talent. Other presenters on the show had faint outlines they were half tracing, he did it all by hand. Such a shame to see him gone, though its hardly a big surprise given how reportedly tragically devastated he was by his fiancée's death.

[camerajuan]

I won an A5 smART sketch pad when I was a young un. Sent in a drawing which used a technique explained by Mark Speight on a previous show. Filled it full of drawings every time it was on.

Its a horrible story when someone you admired so much as a child comes to this kind of end.

[TinkerBell]

I have to say that I used to watch him on SMART, and he always seemed like a lovely man, it is such a terrible shame, and I do feel for him and his family, but then on the other hand I think well he started taking drugs and that is what lead to both him and his other half's death which does change things slightly in my view.

But I do think that he deserves people's sympathy, as once you have started on drugs it is a very hard thing to stop doing.

RIP Mark Speight and his girlfriend

[Justsomebloke]

I've kept my thoughts to myself about this but it makes me sad.
To me it seems like he died of a broken heart & I'll remember it that way rather than the reality of the real situation.
One thing i will say is the place he chose is No place to die & almost seems like he was punishing himself as much as he could.
For all of us friends i would say There but for the grace of God, Go I.

[Gaijin]

As already said, it's a very, very sad story.

As bad as it sounds, I could see what happened to him coming.

He would probably have always blamed himself for the rest of his life as he probably would have felt he could have prevented it, regardless of what actually happened that night.

Furthermore, bad enough that his girlfriend was dead, compounded with the fact he probably could have prevented it, and also that he was arrested under suspicion of her murder (which in itself is enough to taint a reputation.), he was now a kids TV presenter caught doing recreational drugs.

His career was basically over, and he had been publically disgraced. I don't condone what he did, but if I put myself in his shoes, I wouldn't be straying too far from his line.

Rest in peace, Mark and Natasha.