Mark Speight, RIP

Sad all round, the other thread is really distasteful. Cheers for restoring a bit of ILX's dignity Ned.

As I said earlier, am expecting some tears and nightmares when they find out about this. How to explain to a 5yo and 7yo that one of their favourite people has been found dead, apparently by hanging? Not looking fwd to it.

I watched SMart when I was a kid (I was 12 when it began running) and I always remember Mark Speight's funny face and oddly enough I can still remember his voice, even after not hearing it for however many years. I never knew his name as a kid and I long since filed the show at the back of my memories, but it is there, with the rest them.

RIP.

I remember him on SMart, from Saturday morning telly, however many years ago. He always made me smile - particularly his ability to pull any face (correctly, if somewhat one-dimensionally, described as the "rubber faced" Mark Speight). His work on SMart was hugely entertaining - I didn't even know his name until recently, and it's sad that this is how many people will come to find out what his name was.

RIP.

Obit in The Guardian.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/apr/14/television?gusrc=rss&feed=media

it was Billy Idol meets the Energizer Bunny

Is this really an appropriate tone for a broadsheet obituary?

Seems alright to me, kind of endearing. And not inaccurate.

Yeah 'appropriate' is a tricky thing considering the guy spent most of his life entertaining children and then died under such miserable circumstances. Endearing is a good tone to strike for some of the obit at least and I can't see many people objecting.

I'd never even heard of this guy before it all showed up in the news. What a grim and depressing story it's been.

The Billy Idol comparison should have been saved for Freddie Starr's obit.

as i said on the other thread (which i think people are overreacting to, but still): poor, poor bloke. it's an appalling story and an unpleasantly modern tragedy. RIP.

What's modern about it?

To be honest I preferred Neil Buchanan.

<i>What's modern about it?</i>

er: everything from collins's death onwards being played out in the media glare, with added prurience and web chatter from tools? just ... y'know. that.

To be honest I preferred Neil Buchanan.

he's dead too!

He is not!

RIP

xxp
you're thinking of gaz top

one internet meme stopped in its tracks :(

I thought this thread was started for those inclined to be respectful? It was never gonna last was it?

sorry. r.i.p. gaz top.

"68 Guns" was some song, if not necessarily a good one.

Showbiz pal Timmy Mallett also paid tribute to the tragic star, saying, “Mark was a delight to work with and a joy to watch.”

thought that was gonna be a rickroll

i actually know natasha's mum and the person behind the internet poster is feeling very sorry for her.

The coffin was to be carried out of St Michael and All Angels' Church, Tettenhall, to the theme tune of SMart, the children's arts show he presented.

"68 Guns" was some song, if not necessarily a good one.

-- Dingbod Kesterson, Tuesday, 15 April 2008 13:24 (1 week ago) Bookmark Link

Gaz Top was an Alarm roadie. Also, not dead.

He's married to Violet Berlin, which is possibly a sensation similar to being dead

They live in Stoke Newington.

(thread ends)

(not until I put in the predicted remark about Violet Berlin being one of Peter Powell's names to watch in '84 it doesn't)