Archie Lyndhurst's mum remembers 'most wonderful unique' son

Archie Lyndhurst with his father Nicholas and mother Lucy Smith in 2017

Actor Archie Lyndhurst's mother has posted a poignant message remembering her "most wonderful unique son" following his death at the age of 19.

The son of Only Fools and Horses star Nicholas Lyndhurst, he was known for his role in the CBBC comedy So Awkward.

Mum Lucy Smith wrote: "We shall love him forever and a day and are the luckiest parents to have had the most wonderful unique son."

She added that he had brought "nothing but joy in our lives".

She was responding to an Instagram tribute from comedian Jack Whitehall, who described him as "passionate, generous and pitch perfect" and "an utter joy to work with".

The young actor played a younger version of Whitehall on TV, film and stage.

Smith thanked the star for "all the amazing opportunities" he had put their son's way, and for the "lifelong friendship" that had ensued.

"He loved every moment of every job and relished in the fantastic scripts you wrote," she added.

Lyndhurst died after a short illness, it was announced on Thursday. In a statement, his father had said he and his wife were "utterly grief stricken and respectfully request privacy".

• CBBC star Archie Lyndhurst dies aged 19

In his tribute, Whitehall said Lyndhurst was "loved by everyone on set" and would "never be forgotten".

"Archie Lyndhurst came in to my life nearly 10 years ago, playing the young me in a short film I'd written," Whitehall wrote with "a heavy heart".

"He was brilliant, so talented and funny. An utter joy to work with."

Archie Lyndhurst played a younger version of Jack Whitehall on TV, film and on-stage

Whitehall recalled how their "wonderful partnership" led to them doing a skit at the London Palladium and joining forces again in a sketch for his arena tour and TV special.

"When we needed to find an actor to play the young Alfie Wickers in Bad Education it was the easiest piece of casting we ever had to do," he continued.

'Truly special soul'

"Every time I worked with Archie he was the same - passionate, generous and pitch perfect, he was loved by everyone on set. 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 went on to explain that during lockdown, Lyndhurst had been taking shopping and groceries to his parents Michael and Hilary when they couldn't leave the house.

"The enthusiastic and talented boy I met all those years ago had grown into an equally charming young man," he wrote of the kind gesture. "It's testament to what a wonderful and kind person he was."

He concluded: "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."