David Chenery-Wickens, 51, was held on Thursday night by detectives investigating the disappearance of 48-year-old Diane Chenery-Wickens in January.

He had previously been arrested on suspicion of her murder and had his police bail extended to May 30, pending further inquiries.

Sources said he was rearrested hours after the discovery on Thursday morning of a decomposed body off Worth Lane in the village of Little Horsted, near Uckfield, East Sussex.

The family of Mrs Chenery-Wickens were informed of the discovery of the body as inquiries continued to determine whether or not it is her and the cause of death.

Police say it may take some time for forensic and post-mortem examinations to be carried out on the body, which was found about eight miles from Mrs Chenery-Wickens' home in Duddleswell.

The body, which was clothed and appeared to be a woman, was concealed in undergrowth about 10 yards from Worth Lane.

Speaking at the scene, Detective Chief Inspector Steve Johns, of Sussex Police's major crime branch, told reporters: "I don't want to make any assumption that this is Diane Chenery-Wickens.

"We must keep an open mind and see how the inquiry unfolds over the next 24 hours or so. Diane's family are aware that we have discovered a body and we will keep them updated if we get a formal identification."

Mrs Chenery-Wickens, who worked on shows including Dead Ringers, The League Of Gentlemen and Casualty, was reported missing by her husband on January 24 after she failed to attend a meeting at the BBC in London.