Fame Academy star Gary Phelan has died aged 42.
The BBC star rose to fame on the second series of the talent show, which saw Alex Park crowned winner.
According to tributes paid on social media, Phelan died last month in Dubai.
His cause of death has not been confirmed, but a JustGiving page was set up to help his family bring his body home.
Paying tribute, one friend wrote: ‘Rest in peace Gary Phelan, my old music brother.
‘We had some wonderful times together in our twenties.
‘I played bass for him for 5 years, he took me on a journey touring the UK and recording in top studios.
‘We partied, we played and we worked our a****s off.
‘Gary opened up the world for me musically and professionally and we shared some once in a life time moments together – I’ll always be grateful.’
The post added that Phelan’s family are ‘desperately trying to bring him home from Dubai which costs a considerable amount’, linking to the donation page.
Phelan’s former manager Simon Hanning also paid tribute on Facebook, writing: ‘I am so so sad to share the tragic news that my buddy, my friend and artist I managed Gary Phelan was found in his apartment in Dubai at the weekend.
‘I am beyond devastated and can’t as yet put into words how this news has left his family and friends feeling.
‘He was loved by so many people, and I am already missing our chats, his sending me his latest song he’d written and the general banter we had.
‘We did some amazing things together, he was everything you would ask of a friend. I’m truly heart broken.’
An update on the JustGiving page today confirmed Phelan’s body was brought home to the UK over the weekend, after raising more than £11,000.
Phelan was the fourth singer eliminated from Fame Academy in 2003, and following his stint on the reality competition, went on to record new music and tour the country, before recently moving to Dubai.
Earlier this year, he performed at the What’s On Dubai awards, and frequently shared updates of his shows on his Instagram page.
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His last post was in July, sharing his week’s gigs with four performances at an Irish pub based in Abu Dhabi, McCafferty’s Yas Island, and also celebrated the Euros final, writing: ‘Think there might be some football on n’ all 🤪 – Come on England.’
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