Devastated Jamie Oliver has sent his condolences to the family of a former protege, who has been found dead three months after he went missing.
The multi-millionaire chef grew close to Kevin Boyle when he hired him as one of his 15 apprentices on 2002's Jamie's Kitchen, in which he gave a group of unemployed youngsters the chance to work at his posh Fifteen restaurant in London.
Boyle went on to work at some of the capital's top eateries, including Le Caprice, St John and Smiths of Smithfield, but his relatives were left heartbroken when he disappeared in October.
Tragically, his remains were found in a garden near his home in South London last Sunday.
Oliver had been set to make a plea for information about Kevin's disappearance on This Morning this week, but has now paid his respects to the 26-year-old in a moving statement.
He says: "I'm deeply saddened by this tragic news. I am proud to have been able to call Kevin a friend for 10 years.
"He was also a constant supporter of Fifteen and all the apprentices and graduates who came after him through the course. I last saw him in September 2011 at the graduation ceremony for the ninth group of apprentices and he was on good form, which makes this news even harder to take.
"My thoughts are with his family at this incredibly difficult time."
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The death is being treated as unexplained at this stage. A post mortem will be arranged in due course."
Friends and family have left tributes at www.findkevin.co.uk