Stephen Fry, who worked with Coltrane a number of times, tweeted: "Such depth, power and talent: funny enough to cause helpless hiccups and honking as we made our first TV show Alfresco. Farewell, old fellow, you'll be so dreadfully missed."

And Fry's comedy partner Hugh Laurie tweeted about travelling to work with Coltrane: "I don't think I've ever laughed or learned so much in my life", 

Blackadder's Baldrick, Tony Robinson described Coltrane as "such a sweet man...so talented as a comic and as a straight actor". He paid tribute to the success of the famous Blackadder III episode in which Coltrane played the writer of the first dictionary, Samuel Johnson. "It was all down to you mate."

Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe issued a statement: "Robbie was one of the funniest people I've met and used to keep us laughing constantly as kids on that set. I've especially fond memories of him keeping our spirits up on Prisoner of Azkaban, when we were all hiding from the torrential rain for hours in Hagrid's hut and he was telling stories and cracking jokes to keep morale up.

"I feel incredibly lucky that I got to meet and work with him and very sad that he's passed. He was an incredible actor and a lovely man."

Fellow Potter star Emma Watson posted on social media: "Robbie, if I ever get to be so kind as you were to me on a film set I promise I'll do it in your name and memory."

Richard Coles tweeted: "Very sorry to hear Robbie Coltrane has died. We shared a dressing room once and he had the biggest pants I have ever seen, which he wore with tremendous flair. We were friends from then on.