Lil’ Chris, the young rock star who launched a brief singing career having found success in the reality show ‘Rock School’, has died at the age of 24.

On Tuesday, Suffolk Police stated to the Daily Mirror that they were called to a property in Union Road, Lowestoft in Suffolk at around 11:45 on Monday morning (March 23rd) having received a reports that a man had died suddenly. A spokeswoman said that his death was not being treated as suspicious.

Lil Chris
Channel 4's 'Rock School' winner Lil' Chris in 2006

Real name Chris Hardman, he had his first hit single in 2006 with ‘Checkin’ It Out’ having won the Channel 4 talent contest, which was set at Kirkley High School in Lowestoft. While that single reached as high as Number 3 in the UK charts, his subsequent singles failed to match that success.

However, he had remained in show business in subsequent years, starring in ‘Loserville: The Musical’ from June to July 2012 at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds, remaining in the production as it moved to the West End later that year.

Hardman also briefly re-activated his musical career to release a Christmas single in 2013, collaborating with internet sensation Lloyd Wilkinson for a song called ‘Christmas Number One (#FeedEmYellowSnow)’. While the single failed to chart, he briefly toured the UK to support it alongside ‘X Factor’ contestants Tom Mann and Giles Potter.

Kiss star Gene Simmons, who appeared as Lil Chris’s music teacher in the series, tweeted upon hearing the news “he was loved”. The likes of McFly, Busted, and ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ winner Caroline Flack, all of whom had worked with Hardman, also paid tribute.

Fiona Malcolm, Deputy Chief Executive of the Samaritans, made the following statement: “We are saddened to hear of the death of Chris Hardman (aka Lil’ Chris) and our thoughts go out to his loved ones. If anyone has been affected by this news, or is struggling to cope, we would like to let people know that Samaritans is here for them if they need to talk.”

“Samaritans is here round the clock, every single day of the year, to listen and offer confidential support when things are getting to you, by phone on 08457 90 90 90, email jo@samaritans.org or you can find the details of your local branch at www.samaritans.org.”

More: All you need to know about McBusted’s debut album