LONDON -- Singer Lil' Chris, who starred in Channel 4's Rock School and released several albums, has died at the age of 24.
Suffolk Police were called to an address in Union Road, Lowestoft, on Monday. They said they were not treating the death as suspicious.
Lil' Chris, whose real name was Chris Hardman, got his big break after appearing on Rock School in 2006. The reality show saw Gene Simmons from Kiss recruit students from Kirkley High School (now known as East Point Academy) to make up a fully-fledged rock band.
After the programme, Hardman signed to RCA Records and released his debut single "Checkin' It Out" in September 2006, which reached No. 3 in the charts.
He went on to release two albums, a self-titled debut in December 2006 and What's It All About in October 2008. He also starred in a number of other TV shows, including Celebrity Scissorhands, The Weakest Link and his own show Everybody Loves Lil' Chris. He also appeared on stage at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds in Loserville: The Musical.
In a statement in 2013, Hardman said he was working on new material.
Several music and television personalities have paid tribute. Harry Judd from McBusted, who Hardman supported when Judd was in McFly, tweeted that he was "shocked and saddened" by the news.
Shocked and saddened to hear the news about Lil' Chris. He supported us a while back and was a little star and an awesome guy. #RIPChris— Harry Judd (@mcflyharry) March 24, 2015
Lil Chris has died? Totally heartbreaking. Such a funny and sweet kid. Tragic x— Antony Cotton (@antonycotton) March 24, 2015
So sad to hear about Lil Chris. He was such a genuinely sweet and funny guy, we had some awesome… https://t.co/qNQFdfwDlV— Dougie Poynter (@DougiePoynter) March 24, 2015
RIP Chris Hardman aka lil Chris :( only 24 years old so sad!— Dynamo (@Dynamomagician) March 24, 2015