Reality TV Star and Musician "Lil Chris", dead at 24

March 24, 2015

TV personality star and musician Lil Chris has died at the young age of 24...

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Lil' Chris of Channel 4 Rock School fame has died.

The 24-year old actor, singer and TV personality, who real name is Chris Hardman, died on Monday in his home town of Lowestoft.

He was due to be launching a pop comeback in a matter of months. Police have said his death is not being treated as suspicious.

The star shot to fame in Channel 4's Rock School after Kiss frontman Gene Simmons made him the lead singer of a student band.

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Passed on: 'Lil Chris' Hardman of Channel 4 Rock School fame has died aged 24

Once the cameras had gone, he was offered a solo deal and went on to have a top five hit with Checkin' It Out in 2006.

Allan Dodgeon, who managed Chris for a year from 2013, said he was in 'complete shock'.

He said: 'He was an outstanding talent and it was a pleasure to work with him. Our thoughts are with his friends and family.'

Hardman's Loserville director, Elliot Davis, said he suffered from depression.

'He was a super talented guy, so naturally gifted,' Davis told WhatsOnStage.

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'He just had something that the nation saw and it catapulted him to early fame, which perhaps caused problems.'

The star has previously been vocal about suffering with depression, mentioning the illness in two separate tweets last year.

He said: 'I hope to one day create a way out of depression that doesn't mean taking your own life. The Cure.

[Tragic: Police have said that the young singer's death is not being treated as suspicious]
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Tragic: Police have said that the young singer's death is not being treated as suspicious

'Depression really sucks. Learning how to notice it can save lives and your own feelings at times. Take time to understand it, for everybody.'

Hardman first appeared on the realty TV show Rock School when he was 15. In the show, Gene Simmons prepared classically trained young students to be rock stars.

In 2006 he released his debut album after signing a deal with RCA, and went on to host his own talk show Everybody Loves Lil' Chris on Channel 4.

In Loserville, which premiered at West Yorkshire Playhouse in summer 2012 before transferring to the West End's Garrick Theatre, he played Francis Weir.

[Hardman first found fame on the reality TV show Rock School, aged 15, where Gene Simmons prepared classically trained young students to be rock stars]
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Hardman first found fame on the reality TV show Rock School, aged 15, where Gene Simmons prepared classically trained young students to be rock stars

Lil Chris' last single was titled Christmas Number One, and was released in December 2013. He had not released an album since 2008's What's It All About.

According to the Daily Mirror, Chris's mother Karen Hardman posted a number of photos of her late son on Facebook to confirm the news.

His close friend Lloyd Wilkinson, with whom he once recorded a single, paid his respects on Facebook: 'I can not believe I'm doing this and I'm completely devastated. Rest in peace brother bear. Love you mate. Chris Hardman Aka Lil' Chris.'

After news of his death emerged, tributes flooded in for the young singer from fellow celebrities.