Veteran BBC DJ Andy Kershaw behind bars after bust-up with his lover

Maverick BBC presenter Andy Kershaw was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of breaking a restraining order banning him from contacting his ex-partner Juliette Banner.

He was remanded in custody the following day at a court in Douglas, Isle of Man, and will reappear there tomorrow.

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Kershaw, 48, had apparently been trying for a reconciliation with Miss Banner, despite the restraining order imposed a month ago, when he was arrested near her home in Peel on the island.

Yesterday friends and neighbours said he had been drowning his sorrows following the break-up and the decision to move his Radio 3 world music programme to a less favourable time slot.

He has been off the air since May this year. While BBC officials claimed he was 'unwell', insiders said he had been given time off to deal with his personal problems and his grievance at being moved from the weekend to Monday night earlier this year.

One source said: "Unfortunately this incident was on the cards. He has put his ex-partner through a seriously tough time and exhausted the goodwill of many people in the vicinity with drink-related bad behaviour.

"For all that he is a troubled man who deserves to be happier. Hopefully he has hit the rock bottom he needed to reach and can now start climbing back up."

A neighbour added: "Apparently he was very vocal a few weeks ago at a public meeting in Peel, thanks to a few sherbets beforehand.

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"He seems to be enjoying a pint or two."

The Rochdale-born DJ was a close friend of John Peel, his radio colleague who died in 2004.

Kershaw, whose elder sister Liz also made a career in radio, once said he did not believe in marriage or kids.

But after meeting Miss Banner, he said he was prepared to compromise and they had two children, Sonny, nine, and Dolly, eight.

Until April last year they lived in North London, where 42-year- old Miss Banner ran a restaurant.

However, the couple fell in love with the Isle of Man after repeatedly visiting it for music festivals and eventually decided to set up home there.

Kershaw said at the time: "I would rather live here than anywhere else. I love this place."

The pair frequently played host to friends including Liberal Democrat MP Lembit Opik, recently in the news over his relationship with one of the Cheeky Girls, and Jeremy Clarkson.

But the relationship soured and Kershaw was said to have struggled to come to terms with the split.

He suffered another setback when his Radio 3 slot was moved.

This followed his sacking from Radio 1 in 2000 to make way for a dance music show and a friend said he feared the changed slot might be the precursor to being fired again.

He went off the airwaves in May shortly after paying a heartfelt tribute to Miss Banner on Desert Island Discs.

Kershaw's production team initially told fans on his message board that he was unwell but 'on the mend' and would return in July. Last month, however, they announced he would be taking a further three months off and returning in late autumn.

A police source on the Isle of Man said: "It is the first time Andy has been in any trouble."

The DJ appeared before deputy high bailiff Alistair Montgomerie on Thursday where he was charged with breaching the order.

He will be brought before a judge known as a deanster tomorrow.