X Factor star Danny Dearden dies, aged 34

The X Factor contestant Danny Dearden has died, aged 34.

The singer, who appeared on the ITV talent show in 2014, reached the Judges’ Houses stage of the competition, where he was mentored by the Spice Girls singer Mel B in Cancún, Mexico.

Dearden’s manager, Denise Beighton confirmed he had died in an Instagram post shared on Tuesday (15 April), writing: “Heartbroken to wake up to the news that you’re gone. I have no words right now, rest easy beautiful boy.”

Despite impressing The X Factor judges with his rendition of “If You Love Me” by Brownstone in 2014, Dearden didn’t make it to the competition’s live shows as he was beaten out of the show by the likes of Jake Quickenden and Jack Walton.

Nevertheless, the musician went on to have a successful career and amassed more than 15 million streams on Spotify and was signed by Sentric Music in 2021.

Rochdale-born Dearden’s most notable hit was as a featured artist on Michael Calfan’s “Could Be You”, which featured on the reality dating show Love Island and was played on BBC Radio 1 Party Anthems with Scott Mills.

Speaking about the song’s success in 2018, Dearden said: “It’s mental that amount of streams, we are nearly at three-quarters of a million and we haven’t even started the promotion we have planned yet.

“Seeing people like Martin Garrix and Martin Solveig add it to their personal playlist is crazy,” he added.

The singer also released singles including “Come Down” and “Different Kind of Love” and had over 30,000 monthly listeners on the streaming platform, Spotify.

Back in 2023, Dearden shared a post to Instagram thanking the NHS: “At one point I was told I probably wouldn’t be here today,” he said – but did not disclose what his treatment had been for.

Dearden’s cause of death has yet to be revealed. However, tributes to the singer were quickly shared in the comment section of Beighton’s Instagram post.

“This is heartbreaking! Danny was a lovely soul,” musician Lewis Maxwell wrote.

Meanwhile, another person added: “What!?!? No!!! He was such a lovely gent. So so sorry for your loss D, this one is a big shock.”

A third person said of the shock announcement: “Devastating. I honestly can’t believe it.”