The Walking Dead star Danai Gurira praised her co-star Andrew Lincoln (Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

Danai Gurira paid tribute to her co-star Andrew Lincoln following the news that he will be leaving The Walking Dead.

Danai described him as ‘the best leading man on TV’ after the cast made an emotional appearance at San Diego Comic Con.

British actor Andrew has quit his role as lead character Rick on the hit AMC zombie show.

Posting a message to her co-star on Twitter, Danai, who plays Michonne, said: ‘I truly believe Andrew Lincoln is the best leading man on TV.


I truly believe Andrew Lincoln is the best leading man on TV. He has made us all better with his leadership, dedication, heart, and generosity. I couldn’t be thankful enough for the time I’ve gotten to work with him and learn from him. It’s been an honor, sir. #SDCC #TWDFamily pic.twitter.com/r23gfkid7n — Danai Gurira (@DanaiGurira) July 24, 2018

‘He has made us all better with his leadership, dedication, heart, and generosity.

‘I couldn’t be thankful enough for the time I’ve gotten to work with him and learn from him. It’s been an honor, sir.’



She accompanied the tweet with pictures of the Walking Dead cast hugging on stage at SDCC.

Andrew has been with the show since it began in 2010 with Danai joining two years later in season two.

Michonne encountered Rick and his group after leaving Woodbury, and the pair struck up a relationship as they both decided fight back against Negan and the Saviours.

Danai and Andrew have worked together on the show since 2012 (Picture: AMC)

Andrew admitted he was gutted over his exit, which was only recently confirmed by the show one month after it was initially reported that Rick Grimes will no longer be fronting the action on the show after nine seasons.

‘There is a certain sense of relief this morning,’ Andrew said, according to Entertainment Weekly. ‘But I still regret that the story broke, because I believe in story… It’s going to be a great season, but it would have been greater if it was not spoiled to a degree.’

While it’s been heavily speculated that Norman Reedus’ character Daryl Dixon – who doesn’t appear in the comics – will take over as the lead character, the actor insists you can’t replace Rick.

‘You can’t take Rick’s place in the show. That’s not even possible,’ Norman said, explaining that the principal cast’s characters are off exploring different paths.’

‘Nobody’s like, “I’m the lead now” – we don’t really talk like that on this show,’ he added.

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