Presenter in 'good spirits' amid mercy killing murder quiz

The 70-year-old was arrested after he told viewers of BBC East Midlands' Inside Out programme that he smothered his unnamed partner as he lay in hospital suffering from Aids.

After visiting him in custody at Oxclose Lane police station in Nottingham, his solicitor, Digby Johnson, told reporters: "There's very little to say at this early stage. Ray has been at the police station now for approaching five hours and the investigation is at a very, very early stage.

"There is no saying how long Ray will be here but he is in good spirits and I would ask you to respect these are very difficult times for Ray because, by its very nature, the things we are talking about are as distressing as could be.

"Everyone is being careful and respecting Ray's wishes and I'm sure there will be developments as the day progresses but at the moment there is not a lot I can give you."

During the programme aired on Monday night, Gosling said he smothered his partner because he was "in terrible, terrible pain".

Since then, he has refused to name the man involved but has insisted his decision to speak out publicly was right.

today, a police spokeswoman confirmed: "Nottinghamshire Police has this morning arrested a 70-year-old Nottingham man on suspicion of murder following comments on the BBC's Inside Out programme on Monday evening."

Strolling through a graveyard for a segment of the 30-minute show about death, Gosling broke down as he recalled the day he took his lover's life.

He told viewers: "Maybe this is the time to share a secret that I have kept for quite a long time.

"I killed someone once. He was a young chap, he'd been my lover and he got Aids.

"In a hospital one hot afternoon, the doctor said 'There's nothing we can do', and he was in terrible, terrible pain.

"I said to the doctor 'Leave me just for a bit' and he went away. I picked up the pillow and smothered him until he was dead.

"The doctor came back and I said 'He's gone'. Nothing more was ever said."

Gosling, a freelance presenter of hundreds of radio and TV documentaries, said he had no regrets about his actions, adding: "When you love someone, it is difficult to see them suffer.

"We'd got an agreement, if it got worse, the pain, and nobody could do anything.

"He was in terrible pain, I was there and I saw it. It breaks you into pieces."

Yesterday, Mr Gosling said he would not reveal any details to police.

He said he was not "making a cause" of assisted dying but said there was a case for changing the law.

Speaking on the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, he said: "Sometimes doctors do it on their own. Sometimes people do it on their own.

"And if it happens to a lover or friend of yours, a husband, a wife, and I hope it doesn't, but when it does sometimes you have to do brave things and you have to say - to use Nottingham language - bugger the law."

Aiding or abetting another person's death is illegal in England and Wales under the 1961 Suicide Act, and is punishable by up to 14 years in jail.