Murder squad detectives are investigating the death of Kevin Greening, the former Radio 1 DJ, after arresting a man on suspicion of supplying Class A drugs at the scene of his death.

Paramedics found Greening dead on the eve of his 45th birthday, after being called to an address in Wandsworth, South London, on Saturday night.

Greening’s family said that the acclaimed DJ, who presented the Radio 1 breakfast show with Zoë Ball from 1997 to 1998, had died “peacefully in his sleep”.

A man in his 50s was arrested at the scene in connection with the death.

A postmortem examination was held yesterday at St George’s Hospital, southwest London, and a coroner was appointed to open an inquest. The Homicide and Serious Crime Command at Scotland Yard was continuing its inquiries and the death was being treated as unexplained, a police spokesman said.

Broadcasters paid tribute to Greening, an openly gay broadcaster, who leaves behind a long-term boyfriend whom he often referred to on air as his “lesbian life-partner”.

A veteran of several radio stations, for the past two years Greening presented weekday and Saturday afternoon shows for Smooth FM, which is owned by the Guardian Media Group (GMG). John Myers, chief executive of GMG Radio, said: “He was passionate about radio and all kinds of music and will be sadly missed, not only by his colleagues at Smooth but by millions of listeners. It’s a terrible loss.”

Greening, a chemical engineering graduate at University of Cambridge, was known for his laconic wit and the satirical sketches that he inserted into shows. His career included stints at the BBC World Service, Radio 5 Live, Jazz FM and the indie rock station Xfm.

Simon Mayo, the Radio 5 Live presenter, who worked with Greening at Radio 1, said: “Anyone who listened to his programmes could tell he was extremely bright, extremely clever. He had a very dry sense of humour and was quite shy really, sometimes embarrassed about having achieved the level of fame that he did.”

Andrew McGibbon, his radio comedy collaborator, said: “He was a friendly, engaging, creative and funny man, whose great intelligence and comic talent emerged in the quick-witted and informed banter heard in those critical gaps between records that are so often filled with vapid loquaciousness.”

Chris North, Greening’s agent, said: “The family has said that Kevin died peacefully in his sleep.” He declined to comment further on the circumstances surrounding the death.

A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: “Officers attended a residential address in Wandsworth at 20.49 on Saturday following a call from the London Ambulance Service regarding a deceased male in his 40s found at the address. A man in his 50s was arrested at the scene in connection with the death and has subsequently been bailed to return on a date in March on suspicion of possession with intent to supply Class A drugs pending further inquiries.”

Grooverider, a Radio 1 dance DJ whose real name is Raymond Bingham, was arrested at Dubai airport on November 23 for allegedly carrying cannabis and pornographic DVDs. He faces a four-year prison term.

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