Jack Whitehall pays tribute to Archie Lyndhurst who played young version of comedian in stand-up shows and Bad Education

The pair’s ‘wonderful partnership’ began in 2011

Jack Whitehall has paid tribute to Archie Lyndhurst, who played the young version of his character in Bad Education.

Lyndhurst – the 19-year-old son of Only Fools and Horses actor Nicholas Lyndhurst – died after what CBBC described as "a short illness".

Whitehall, 32, had worked closely with Lyndhurst ever since the teenager played his younger incarnation in a biographical short film released as part of series Little Crackers in 2011.

He reprised the role for Whitehall's stand-up set at Tonight at the London Palladium as well as Jack Whitehall Gets Around.

They had such a “wonderful partnership” that Whitehall cast Lyndhurst as the young version of Alfie in BBC3 sitcom Bad Education.

Archie Lyndhurst (right) pictured with his parents, Nicholas and Lucy (Instagram)

Paying tribute on Instagram, Whitehall wrote: “Archie Lyndhurst came in to my life nearly 10 years ago, playing the young me in a short film I’d written. He was brilliant, so talented and funny. An utter joy to work with.”

“I have no doubt he would have had a long and illustrious career and would have continued lighting up the lives of all those who encountered him.”

Whitehall said that Lyndhurst had been taking food to his parents who were stuck indoors during lockdown.

“It's testament to what a wonderful and kind person he was,” Whitehall continued. 

“The world has been robbed of a truly special soul. He will never be forgotten. I feel utterly devastated that he is gone but I also feel so blessed to have met him.”

On Friday (2 October), Rodney Trotter star Lyndhurst broke his silence over his son's death, stating that he and his wife were "utterly grief stricken" by the news.

Born in 2000, Archie is Lyndhurst's son with his wife of 21 years, Lucy Smith.

His breakout role came in CBBC show So Awkward.