I didn't kill her, says BBC children's TV presenter after his fiancée's 'cocaine death'

Natasha Collins, 31, was found dead by her husband-to-be Mark Speight in the bath of their penthouse flat.

Speight, 42, known to millions of youngsters for presenting children's art programme SMart, was arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs before being released on bail.

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It is understood he told detectives his fiancée - an actress, model and presenter - had taken cocaine in the run-up to her death.

Last night former public schoolboy Speight, described by BBC colleagues as a "party animal", issued a statement denying he had anything to do with the tragedy at the couple's rented £500,000 flat in St John's Wood, North London. He said he was "absolutely distraught".

Scotland Yard said Miss Collins' death was being treated as "unexplained", but sources said it appeared to have been an accidental drugs overdose.

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Another theory is that she suffered an adverse reaction after taking prescription tablets for medical problems linked to a serious car crash several years ago.

Friends said she had suffered seizures since the accident and was being treated by a Harley Street doctor. Neighbours said last night that the 5ft 5in brunette had appeared "painfully thin" in recent months.

A post mortem examination is due to take place on Monday, but it could be a further fortnight before police receive the results of toxicology tests on the ex-convent schoolgirl.

Sources told the Mail last night that, despite her health problems, police were focusing on the possibility that Miss Collins was the latest victim of Britain's middle-class cocaine culture.

The tragedy happened days after former BBC Radio One DJ Kevin Greening, 44, died from a suspected accidental overdose of cocaine and other drugs.

Speight, the son of a property developer, called police after discovering his fiancee's naked body in the bath at 1.20pm on Thursday. He is said to have tried desperately to resuscitate her, but she was pronounced dead at the scene.

Although no drugs were found, police arrested him on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs. In a statement, Speight's spokesman said: "Mark has been questioned by the police on account of the fact that the body of his fiancÈe, Natasha Collins, was found in the flat they shared.

"At the moment, no one knows what happened. Mark found her body in the bathroom and immediately called an ambulance and the police.

"Mark was the only other person present in the flat and has therefore been questioned by police as a matter of course.

"He is assisting police with their inquiries and had nothing to do with Natasha's death."

Speight's mother, art teacher Jacqueline, said she was devastated by the tragedy. She added: "I can't believe it. I'm in absolute shock, I was only with them at Christmas. They both seemed fine and very happy."

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At her home in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton, she explained that Miss Collins had a medical condition for which she took tablets, and speculated that she had taken the wrong medication.

She added: "There is no way on Earth that Mark would do anything to harm Tash.

"He had been seeing her for quite a while and as far as I know everything was OK between them."

In a statement, Miss Collins's mother Carmen, of Palmers Green, North London, said: "We are all absolutely distraught over the death of Natasha.

"She was our loving, caring daughter who was always full of life. This is a very emotional time for us as a family."

Miss Collins's father is believed to have died in 1999.

Last night a former colleague said Speight was known for his party lifestyle.

He said: "He enjoyed life to the full and was always game for a party if there was one to be had. He would be where the action was."

The BBC has cancelled today's scheduled 10am showing of SMart on CBBC.

Ten years ago, the BBC was rocked by another cocaine scandal when Blue Peter presenter Richard Bacon was axed from the show after admitting taking the drug.