Heartbroken: Jacqueline Speight, 62, was found dead at her home

The heartbroken mother of children’s TV presenter Mark Speight – who was found dead at her home on Friday – may have died as a result of stress after his suicide.

Former art teacher Jackie Speight, who lived in Wolverhampton, is thought to have suffered a stroke.

Oliver Speight, her former husband and Mark’s father, said last night: ‘The stress and strain over Mark’s death may well have played a part in this but it is pure speculation at the moment because we do not yet know the cause of death.

‘We are just all overwhelmed by the shock of this.’

Less than a month ago, he and his former wife had stood side by side at a memorial service for Mark at St Paul’s Church in Covent Garden, Central London.

Mrs Speight said afterwards: ‘It made me realise just how much he was loved.’

In April, 42-year-old Mark, who fronted the BBC art show SMart, was found hanged at Paddington railway station five days into the inquest into the death of his fiancee, fellow presenter Natasha Collins.

Natasha, 31, died in the bath at their North London home following a cocaine and alcohol binge in January.

The 31-year-old had taken a cocktail of cocaine and sleeping tablets and suffered hot water burns covering 60 per cent of her body.

He was arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying Class A drugs, but was later released without charge.

However the BBC suspended him from his job on the children's arts show.

Friends said the incident left Mr Speight reeling and he went missing on April 7, just days after the inquest into his fiancée's death.

Despite appeals from his family he failed to make contact and his body was discovered six days later in a building adjacent to Paddington station.

Double tragedy: Mark Speight committed suicide after the death of girlfriend Natasha Collins

Describing the death as a tragedy, coroner Dr Knapman recorded a verdict of suicide. He said: 'It does seem to me that he decided on a course of action to kill himself. Clearly he was so devastated by the loss of Natasha Collins that he could not contemplate life without her.'

At the inquest into his death Westminster Coroners' Court heard that Mr Speight had initially tried to hang himself with his belt, but that had snapped.

He then took the shoelaces out of one of his trainers and used them.

The broken belt, plus a scrawled suicide note, were found in his left trouser pocket.

Police found another suicide note addressed to his parents in Mr Speight's private diary.

Screen roles: Natasha and Mark appeared in a BBC children's TV show called See It Saw It (pictured with co-presenter Phil Fox)

Friends say Jacqueline was struggling to come to terms with the double tragedy and had not been well.

Her youngest son Jason found her body yesterday morning at her house in Tettenhall Wood, Wolverhampton.

Mark's close friend Stuart Goldsmith, 43, told the Sun newspaper: 'With all that happened to Mark, the pressure was too much.

'If you lost your son would you ever get over it? You never get over it.'

A neighbour told the Sun: 'It's come as a complete shock. She died very suddenly. She had been battling to come to terms with what happened to Mark.'

In memory of his son, his father Oliver Speight has established a foundation - SP8 of the Art, which aims to work closely with schools, local authorities and communities to discover artistic skills among children.

A memorial service attended by close family and friends will be held on Wednesday at St Monica’s Catholic Church in Palmers Green, North London, to remember the couple.

Natasha’s mother Carmen said: ‘It’s a simple service to remember them and to pray for them. After Natasha died Mark went to the church every day and lit a candle for her so it seemed right to do something for them both.’

Hymns will include Lord Of All Hopefulness, Lord Of All Joy and a friend of Natasha’s will sing her favourite song, Songbird by Eva Cassidy.