# Lil' Chris
**Lil' Chris** was the stage name of Christopher James Hardman (born 1990, [Lowestoft](https://www.edgepedia.org/lowestoft), Suffolk; died 23 March 2015), an English singer-songwriter, guitarist, and television personality who rose to fame as a teenager on the [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) reality series *Rock School* and scored a UK top three single with "Checkin' It Out".[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) • [2](https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-162-1210890)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Christopher James Hardman, known professionally as Lil' Chris[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris) |
| Origin | Lowestoft, Suffolk, England[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) |
| Breakthrough | Second series of Channel 4's *Rock School*, aired from January 2006, in which KISS bassist Gene Simmons assembled a band from year 11 pupils at Kirkley High School[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) |
| Biggest single | "Checkin' It Out" (September 2006), which reached number three in the UK per AllMusic; other reports place it in the top five[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) • [2](https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-162-1210890) |
| Albums | *Lil' Chris* (2006, RCA/Sony Music) and *What's It All About?* (2008, RCA)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) |
| Television | Guest and presenter roles on Channel 4, the BBC, and ITV2, including hosting *Everybody Loves Lil' Chris* from October 2008[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) |
| Death | Died in Lowestoft on 23 March 2015, aged 24; a coroner's inquest concluded that he died by suicide[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris) |
## Rock School
Hardman was 15 when he became the focus of the second series of *Rock School*, which began airing on Channel 4 in January 2006. The program followed [Gene Simmons](https://www.edgepedia.org/gene-simmons), bassist of the American rock band KISS, as he tried to assemble a five-piece group from year 11 pupils at Kirkley High School in Lowestoft. At 4 ft 11 in, Hardman was the shortest boy at his school, looked younger than his age, and could sing, drum, and play guitar. He proved such a natural on camera that the series concentrated on him at the expense of the changing lineup of mostly female bandmates around him.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
Simmons named the teenage group Hoax UK, after a slogan on a cap worn by Hardman, and under his mentorship the band met [Black Sabbath](https://www.edgepedia.org/black-sabbath) guitarist [Tony Iommi](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-iommi) and the 1970s rocker [Suzi Quatro](https://www.edgepedia.org/suzi-quatro), rehearsed the Who's "My Generation", and traveled to California to open for Judas Priest, Rob Zombie, and Anthrax at the Long Beach Arena.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
## Music career
After the series ended, producers Ray Hedges and Nigel Butler secured Hardman a record deal with RCA. With lyricist Gary Osborne, best known for his work with [Elton John](https://www.edgepedia.org/elton-john) and [Jeff Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeff-wayne), they wrote the stuttering punk-pop single "Checkin' It Out", released in September 2006. AllMusic places it at number three on the UK chart; the NME and The Independent both describe it as a top five hit.[2](https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-162-1210890) • [4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) A follow-up single composed by Hardman with Butler and Hedges, "Gettin' Enough??", reached the top 20 in December 2006, when his self-titled debut album was also issued.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
The Guardian's review of the debut album called it "one of the most unlikely pop masterpieces of 2006", describing its style as a tribute to early 1980s new wave pop with nods to acts such as Devo, Yazoo, and the [Buzzcocks](https://www.edgepedia.org/buzzcocks).[5](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/dec/10/33) Later singles, "Figure It Out" and a cover of [Jermaine Stewart](https://www.edgepedia.org/jermaine-stewart)'s "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off", underperformed.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) In 2007 he toured the United Kingdom as a support act for McFly on their 24-date Up Close and Personal tour.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
His second album, *What's It All About?*, was released by RCA in 2008, combining six new tracks with seven selections from the debut; it was timed to capitalize on his television hosting work.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) • [1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) Gary Osborne later reflected that "People lost interest, he'd had his moment. He didn't get the second bite."[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
## Television and stage
Hardman appeared regularly on British television as a guest and presenter across Channel 4, the BBC, and ITV2.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris) His appearances included [BBC Three](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-three)'s *Celebrity Scissorhands*, CBBC's *SMart* and *TMi*, *The Weakest Link*, *Dani's House*, *Never Mind the Buzzcocks*, and ITV2's *Hole in the Wall*.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) • [3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris) From October 2008 he hosted his own Saturday morning series on Channel 4, *Everybody Loves Lil' Chris*, part of the T4 strand, which The Guardian framed as a revival of Saturday morning youth television.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036) • [4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) • [6](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/oct/04/c4.lil.chris)
In 2012 he made his stage debut starring in *Loserville: The Musical*, written by Elliot Davis and James Bourne of Busted, first at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds and then at the Garrick Theatre in the West End.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) • [7](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/brief-encounter-with-chris-hardman-aka-lil-chris_3954/) Towards the end of 2013 he mounted the Lil' Christ-mas Tour to promote the self-released single "Christmas Number One".[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
## Death
Hardman died at an address in Lowestoft on 23 March 2015, at the age of 24. Police said the death was not being treated as suspicious.[2](https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-162-1210890) • [4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) A coroner's inquest concluded that he died by suicide, noting mental-health difficulties in the period before his death; obituaries reported that he had been suffering from depression.[3](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris) • [4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html) The Independent's obituary described him as a graduate of television's *Rock School* "whose star burned brightly for a few years", echoing a line its critic had written about teenage pop performers in 2006.[4](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
## References
1. [Lil' Chris: Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic (Andy Kellman)](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lil-chris-mn0000269036)
2. [Chris Hardman, aka Lil' Chris, dies aged 24, NME (David Renshaw, 24 March 2015)](https://www.nme.com/news/music/various-artists-162-1210890)
3. [Lil' Chris, TVmaze person page](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/107766/lil-chris)
4. [Lil' Chris: Graduate of television's 'Rock School' whose star burned brightly for a few years, The Independent (Pierre Perrone, 26 March 2015)](https://www.the-independent.com/news/people/lil-chris-graduate-of-television-s-rock-school-whose-star-burned-brightly-for-a-few-years-a120406.html)
5. [Lil Chris, Lil Chris, album review, The Guardian (Peter Robinson, 9 December 2006)](https://www.theguardian.com/music/2006/dec/10/33)
6. [BAN boredom. GET drinking licences. BUY Bonds. GET a cat. GO Camping. DON'T leave school, The Guardian (Peter Robinson, 3 October 2008)](https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2008/oct/04/c4.lil.chris)
7. [Brief Encounter With … Chris Hardman (aka Lil' Chris), WhatsOnStage (7 June 2012)](https://www.whatsonstage.com/news/brief-encounter-with-chris-hardman-aka-lil-chris_3954/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › Pop singers, 2000s to present › Mainstream pop singers, 2000s–2010s › Surnames A to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license