Speight, who hanged himself in April months after the drugs-related death of his fiance, actress Natasha Collins, was described as a "shining beacon" by his father Oliver.

Amid laughter friends and colleagues recounted funny anecdotes from Speight's life, while a tearful Rolf Harris sang a brace of his hits in tribute. Speight's co-host of long-running BBC3 show SMart Kirsten O'Brien described her former colleague as "really special".

Speight, who would have celebrated his 43rd birthday on Wednesday, was found dead in a building near Paddington railway station in April after he failed to come to terms with his fiance's death.

Miss Collins was found dead in the bath of the couple's flat in St John's Wood, north west London, in January.

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

Speight was initially arrested on suspicion of murder and supplying class A drugs but no charges were brought. Friends said the incident left Speight reeling and he went missing on April 7, just days after the inquest into his fiance's death.

But between the tears many of the 200-strong congregation, which included former TV presenters Zoe Ball and Timmy Mallett, managed to laugh and smile as colleagues recounted stories.

Paying tribute to his son, Oliver Speight said: "Mark had that beautiful ability to touch and reach out to children. Today is not only a celebration of Mark's life but also that of Natasha. They were soul mates."

Speight's father also launched a charitable foundation in his son's name. SP8 Of The Art - The Mark Speight Foundation has been set up to help nurture artistic talent in under-18s.



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