W1A star Alex Beckett has sadly passed away at the age of 35, his agent has confirmed.

"We're deeply saddened by the loss of Alex – a wonderful man and a hugely talented actor. Our thoughts are with his family and we kindly ask that their privacy be respected at this difficult time," Gavin Denton-Jones said in a statement.

Beckett starred as PR agent Barney Lumsden on BBC's critically acclaimed comedies W1A and its predecessor Twenty Twelve, and his co-stars Jessica Hynes and Rufus Jones have been among those to pay tribute to him on Twitter.

BBC

"Alex Beckett was a wonderful, clever, kind, brilliant person – so glad to have known him, so sad he is gone," Hynes wrote.

"Just hearing this awful news about Alex Beckett. He was such a warm-hearted and funny, funny guy. W1A felt like a big family and he was a face you couldn't wait to see. My thoughts with his family," Jones wrote.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site. Just hearing this awful news about Alex Beckett. He was such a warm-hearted and funny, funny guy. W1A felt like a big family and he was a face you couldn’t wait to see. My thoughts with his family xx — rufus jones (@rufusjones1) April 12, 2018

Beckett was currently starring in The Way of the World at the Donmar Warehouse and all performances this week have been cancelled as a "mark of respect" to the actor.

"We are deeply shocked by the tragic loss of our dear friend and brilliant actor Alex Beckett, a much-loved member of The Way of the World company. Our thoughts are with his family and close friends at this incredibly sad time," Donmar's Josie Rourke and Kate Pakenham said.

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