Father urges missing TV star to call

LONDON, April 13 (UPI) -- The father of a missing British television star has issued a public plea on the BBC, urging him to contact his family.

Mark Speight vanished last Monday. He was captured on security cameras boarding an Underground train toward central London. Friends and relatives say he had been carrying an enormous burden of guilt over the death of his fiancee from a cocaine overdose.

In the plea to his son, Oliver Speight said his family understands if he needs time alone, the BBC reported.

"Mark, wherever you are or whatever you are doing to give yourself time to deal with your own personal grief, we totally understand but we need you to get in touch," he said.

Speight was the host of a BBC children's art show, "SMart."

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said there had been unconfirmed reports that Speight was seen in London, St. Albans and Bournemouth.