Former X Factor judge Mel B has paid tribute to Danny Dearden who has died aged just 34. The singer appeared on the ITV talent show back in 2014 and the Spice Girl took him under her wing at the age of 23 when he made it through to the Judges’ Houses segment. “This is so very, very sad. I remember clearly the impact he made on me. I feel deeply for his family and friends – God rest his soul,” she told The Sun responding to the tragic news. The singer’s death was confirmed by his manager Denise Beighton who said: “Danny’s passing has left us heartbroken. Heartbroken to wake up to the news that you’re gone. I have no words right now, rest easy beautiful boy.”

During his time on the show he performed Kelly Clarkson’s Beautiful Disaster at Mel’s Judge’s House in Mexico, where she was joined by Emma Bunton to oversee her selection of finalists. In spite of a memorable performance, he ultimately lost out to fellow contestants Andrea Faustini, Jake Quickenden, and Paul Akister.

Although he didn’t make the final of the show Danny managed to carve out a successful career after proving himself to be a formidable vocalist and songwriter.

In 2021, he secured a deal with Sentric Music, after accumulating an impressive record of over 15 million Spotify streams. His hit collaboration with French DJ Michael Calfan, titled Could Be With You, almost broke the 14 million mark on Spotify.

Recalling his experience collaborating with Michael in 2018, Danny enthused: “It was amazing working with him. At the time of the first session, when we wrote ‘It’s Wrong’, I hadn’t had a lot of experience in a studio of that scale, so it was quite nerve-racking, but everyone made me feel at ease.

“He is one of the most down to earth people I’ve ever met, although it can be difficult at times because he has the strongest French accent I’ve ever heard, that mixed with my Northern/Lancashire/Manc accent we had to repeat ourselves a few times.”

Reflecting on the success of the song, he said: “Yeah, 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.”

The cause of Danny’s death has not yet been made public. In his final Instagram post he shared a picture of a hot beverage while in hospital weeks before his death.

In December 2023, Danny shared on Instagram how the NHS had saved his life, stating: “This year has been a bit of a rocky one, at one point I was told I probably wouldn’t be here today…well I am.”

He also mentioned on social media last year that he had been struggling with his health.