Sir Elton John and influential music journalist Paul Gambaccini are amongst the the names who have paid their respects to Boyzone singer Stephen Gately.

The 33-year-old pop star died while on holiday in Majorca with his long-term partner Andy Cowles yesterday.

Paying tribute, Sir Elton John said: "David (Furnish) and I are stunned by this tragedy. Stephen was the kindest, gentlest soul. We send our love and condolences to his partner Andy and to all his friends everywhere."

Paul Gambaccini said: "He's a performer with the word 'boy' in his professional title and boys aren't supposed to die.

"This is way too soon and way too unspecific for us to feel that this is at all the right thing to happen. This is a very sad thing on a personal level and a professional level.”

Boyzone manager Louis Walsh, who is due to appear on X Factor this evening, said: “I'm in complete shock. I was only with him on Monday at an awards ceremony. We don't know much about what's happened yet.

"I only heard after The X Factor and we will rally around each other this week. He was a great man."

Meanwhile, on Twitter Stephen Fry wrote: "Just heard the very sad news about dear Stephen Gately. What a dreadful shock. He was loveable and sweet-natured and will be hugely missed."

The cause of Gately's death is not yet known.

(by Scott Colothan)