As it's quiet I've found this, which I thought you might like to read:

 

Regarding Shayne Ward and his new release - how will he do?!!!

 

"Here we look at artists who made it big and hung onto fame and fortune and those who messed up in record time"

 

Artists discussed are Will, Gareth, GA, Steve Brookstein, Lemar, Alex Parks (releasing an EP later this year?), David Sneddon,

Michelle McManus, Hearsay, Liberty X, OTV, Darius, Ray Quinn and Chico.

 

The all-positive write-ups are Will, GA, Lemar and Darius. D's write-up is as follows:

 

"Darius missed out on the original Popstars group in spectacular style, his 'ponytail, goatee and ludicrous Britney Spears cover' combination failing to wow the judges. He returned a man transformed the following year, finishing third to Will and Gareth in the inaugural Pop Idol with a smart new haircut and a dashing image. The stardom he yearned for beckoned and he bagged a No.1 with debut single Colourblind, following it with a clutch of slightly less memorable hits.

 

WHAT'S NEXT? Glasgow's premier entertainer has recently been treading the boards dazzling in Chicago and Guys and Dolls in the West End and beyond. For those who can't get enough Double D, he's working on a new album too."

 

 

Julie

I like that. It's all true as well - which must be unusual. I thought he was great in popstars - although I did cringe at the Britney song.

that is great, nice to read something positive without the unecessary swipes

There have been a few recently. It's too good to last.

Doesnt it make you feel good when you read something about Darius that is good and the truth.

Thanks Julia. :)

It does - I like it but I want more.

Thanks for that :)

It seems ages before he'll be back and visible again

And then you dont know if it will actually happen. I really dont understand it, why would he lie so low surely some PR is better than none.

He seems to be putting all his energy into the new album. I wish we could have a sneak preview.

Posting this cos its quiet. Its from todays daily record and I find again its strange he doesnt get a mention. Shows its hard to get parts in musicals.

 

Exclusive After struggling to find work following TV talent show success, Donna Hazleton is back and ready to dazzle

By Rick Fulton

THREE years ago, mum-of-five Donna Hazleton was one of the winners of Channel 4's Musicality.

 

Her prize was playing Mama Morton in Chicago in London's West End.

 

And unlike other Scots winners of reality TV shows like Pop Idol's Michelle McManus and Big Brother's Cameron Stout, Donna is going from strength to strength.

 

The idea of Musicality was to find new West End talent and the former box office assistant at St Andrews' Byre Theatre is doing just that.

 

She's currently on a UK tour with musical Girls Behind, which comes to Glasgow's King's Theatre from September 11 and also stars Maureen Nolan from the Nolan Sisters and Coronation Street actress Sue Devaney.

 

So what's her secret.

 

 

Donna, 43, from Leven in Fife, laughed: "I wish I knew, but I love entertaining and performing and I've been quite lucky.

 

 

"Where are the people you mentioned and people like Gareth Gates now?

 

 

"It's great they had their moment, but if you don't have the proper drive you disappear because it's such a tough business."

 

 

After being one of the five chosen winners of the show, Donna admits that in the six months afterwards, she thought her dream of becoming a star was just that, a dream.

 

 

Despite being on television, no one would touch her and as the weeks passed Donna began to worry.

 

 

She said: "I struggled for about six months after Musicality. It was quite worrying. Especially after having that high profile thanks to Musicality and doing Mama Morton in the West End.

 

 

"I went to lots of auditions but the trouble was people were frightened of giving me a chance because I had no formal training.

 

 

"Even though I'd done the TV show and worked hard in the West End, it's still a business and it's about drawing people in.

 

 

"And if you don't have any training they don't know if you can sustain eight shows a week."

 

 

With knockback after knockback it was only the strength of her husband Jon, 48, who kept her going.

 

 

She said: "There were tears and doubts, but he was always the one who said 'don't give up, it will happen.'

 

 

"I had given up my work so I could go for auditions at the drop of a hat. But it meant I wasn't earning any money and still had to fly or take the train down to London.

 

 

"Jon was supporting me but it came to the point where I realised I couldn't go on this way forever, so I gave myself another six months."

 

 

She kept herself busy with her one woman show and one-off events like singing at the Annual Royal Air Force International Tattoo in 2005. In the same year she also appeared as a soloist in the 75th birthday concert in honour of Stephen Sondheim at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane - but still no job.

 

 

Then came a stroke of luck. One of the producers from Channel 4 was friendly with the people who wrote Girls Night, another comedy musical.

 

 

He suggested that Donna would be great in the show and while she was on route to another audition, they met up.

 

 

Donna laughed: "It was at Luton Airport. Very glamorous. We had our chat in one of the bars at the airport. It was nine in the morning and they were asking me to read for this part.

 

 

"By the time I'd got the bus from Luton to Baker Street, they'd phoned my agent and offered me the part."

 

 

Donna played the part of Lisa in Girls Night and admits it's been a rollercoaster ever since.

 

 

One of the actresses in the production was Gywneth Strong, who played Cassandra in Only Fools and Horses, and she introduced Donna to ex-Blue Peter presenter Peter Duncan who now directs pantos. He then cast her as the Fairy Godmother in Dick Whittington at the Oxford Playhouse.

 

 

She then got a mini tour of Checkout Girls, made by the people behind Girls Night, before her latest part in Girls Behind, which is about a singing trio called The Diamond Dolls and will take Donna around the country until Decembe

 

Now Donna is very much in demand. During the Glasgow run she'll have to miss a night to go down to London for a Channel 4 bash at the Barbican Theatre to celebrate the station's 25th anniversary.

 

 

Thanks Preston

 

Darius couldn't get a mention as he's done West End and the G&D Tour...he's a success in their eyes.

 

Don't think this was called for,

"Where are the people you mentioned and people like Gareth Gates now?

 

"It's great they had their moment, but if you don't have the proper drive you disappear because it's such a tough business."

 

Gareth has certainly got the drive, he's aware it's a tough business and has worked very hard

Edited September 6, 200717 yr by SpamFritter

I think that is very unfair about Garath.

Lets be honest they cant all be in the public eye constantly.

I think a lot of people forget that Darius has always had to audition - if he wasn't good, he wouldn't have been taken on. This business is about beating rejection. I, also, can't see Gareth just giving up. I can't see him in musical theatre either. We'll just have to wait and see what his next move is.

Funny the DR didn't bother with this lady until she was actually playing in Glasgow. Before that, would she have been on their losers list?

 

Funny too that as media they don't know that Cameron Stoute is a successful fellow journalist.

 

It's a particularly annoying trait in this country that if you aren't doing exactly what you once did on a TV show, you're apparently a failure and if you continue to do it, you're a one trick pony or stuck in a rut. You can't win as a performer, just roll with the punches. The media's "if you're not on TV, you don't exist" stupidity, is what drives so many celebs to appear on unsuitable reality shows and some suffer the consequences, the latest probably being Lee Ryan, who arguably has the best voice of any ex-Blue member.

He was nice as well. I saw him with the kids at a show and he was brilliant with them. Which reality program is he thinking of. Twice makes it twice as difficult and he's already been through one 'win a place in a band' on TV

Lee was on the new series of Hell's Kitchen which I saw at my friend's last night. He was on it but got into an argument with Marco Pierre White and walked out.

 

Now, I fear, he'll be remembered for that and not for all he's done with Blue or for his voice. He might get columns in the mags etc. but I doubt they'll be positive.

That's a shame. I would know they'd have that effect on me and not go near it in the first place.

Winning "A Celeb" did nothing for Matt Willis whereas appearing in a white bikini opened up a huge TV presentation career for Myleene Klass.

 

Girls have the edge because they can feature in fashion shoots, make up tips etc. in a huge swathe of magazines. The media just love turning Cinders into a Princess. You just have to look at the career of Colleen the WAG of Wayne Rooney to see how it works.

It is unbelievable. I find myself amazed as I watch someone who has no talent and has done nothing become famous just because of who she dates or what she nearly wears.