Former ‘X Factor’ Contestant Will Rush Has Died at Age 31

Will Rush, a former contestant on The X Factor UK, has sadly passed away at age 31. His mother shared the news of her son’s death on Instagram Thursday. In addition to singing, Rush was also an actor on the TV series Waterloo Road.

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A post shared by Debbie Rush (@debbie_rush)

X Factor Singer Will Rush Dies at Age 31

Will Rush was the son of Coronation Street actress Debbie Rush, who shared the sad news of his passing on Thursday, writing on Instagram, “Our beautiful baby boy, William, passed away on 17th December.” She added that the family’s “hearts are completely broken.”

“Even in our darkest moment, William gave the most precious gift of all,” the post continues. “Through being an organ donor, he has given hope and life to other families, thinking of others right to the very end. His kindness and love will forever be part of his legacy.”

Like his mother, Will was also an actor, playing Josh Stevenson in the series Waterloo Road from 2009 to 2012. His most recent acting credit was in the 2017 miniseries Friday on My Mind, playing Australian musician George Young.

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The Singer Auditioned in 2016

In 2016, Will auditioned for The X Factor UK Series 13, singing “Lush Life” by Zara Larsson while strumming the guitar. He made it to the six-chair challenge before being eliminated from the competition.

During the six-chair challenge, Will performed an original song that he wrote during the boot camp stage of the competition. Judge Simon Cowell said he liked Will, but called his performance “not fun,” prompting boos from the audience.

Last year, Will released a few singles on streaming, titled “Son,” “By My Side,” and “Tired.” His cause of death has not been shared publicly as of this writing. In his mother’s Instagram post, she asked “that our privacy be respected as we navigate this unimaginable grief.”