A spiritualist preacher accused of killing his wife is due to give evidence today at his murder trial at Lewes Crown Court.

David Chenery-Wickens, 51, is alleged to have killed his wife, Diane, and dumped her body in woodland in the Sussex countryside.

Mrs Chenery-Wickens, 48, was an award-winning BBC make-up artist.

She was reported missing by her husband in January last year and her body was found by a dog walker in woods eight miles from the home she shared with him in Duddleswell, near Crowborough, four months later.

Her body was so badly decomposed it was impossible to establish the exact cause of death.

The prosecution allege Chenery-Wickens killed his wife after she uncovered his secret life of affairs with mistresses and men he met through a gay chatline.

Mrs Chenery-Wickens won an Emmy in the US for her work on Arabian Nights. She had also worked on television shows including The League Of Gentlemen and Casualty, and was nominated for a Bafta for her work on Dead Ringers.

Chenery-Wickens denies murder.

The trial continues.