‘DARIUS HAD THE HEART OF A LION’

THE SHOWBUSINESS WORLD PAID TRIBUTE TO SINGER AND STAGE STAR DARIUS CAMPBELL DANESH FOLLOWING THE NEWS OF HIS TRAGIC DEATH, AGED 41, LAST WEEK

- SAMUEL MCMANUS-MAXWELL

Darius Campbell Danesh stole the hearts of the reality TV viewing nation in the early noughties. He first worked his magic on Popstars in 2001, despite failing to make it into winning group Hear’Say with his iconic rendition of Britney Spears’ Baby One More Time – and later admitting, “I wouldn’t have voted for me.” He then sailed through to the semi-finals of Pop Idol a year later, finishing in third place behind Will Young and Gareth Gates.

On the back of his hit single Colourblind – which went to No1 20 years ago last week – he forged a career in musical theatre. At 25 he became the youngest ever actor to play the role of Billy Flynn in Chicago, then went on to play a number of other lead parts including Rhett Butler in Gone With The Wind.

Last week, the showbiz world was left bereft and heartbroken at the news that Darius, who had stepped back from the spotlight in recent years, had tragically passed away at the age of 41.

A statement from his loved ones read, “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Darius Campbell Danesh. Darius was found unresponsive in bed in his apartment room in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 11 and was pronounced dead in the afternoon by the local medical examiners’ office.