Next Year. I live in hope.

So do I Meg, but this year I really feel something good's going to happen. Sue

We've just had the police round. It seems that about the time we were having our meal in the pub overlooking the river, a man died. They are doing house to house investigations. A sad time for another family there. They've arrested someone.

It's not their aria of expertise... but that won’t stop eight pop acts bidding for opera stardom.

 

Corrie’s Kym Marsh is already clearing her throat in readiness for ITV1’s new classical reality show, Popstar to Operastar.

 

Blur’s Alex James, Bernie Nolan, McFly’s Danny Jones, ex-Pop Idol star Darius Danesh, Shakespeare’s Sister’s Marcella Detroit, Jimmy Osmond and Vanessa White from girl band The Saturdays complete the line-up.

 

The artists will be trained to perform world-famous opera songs – with many singing in a different language for the first time. Welsh singing sensation Katherine Jenkins will mentor the stars, along with famed tenor Rolando Villazon.

 

And then – in a bizarre twist – they will be judged on their weekly efforts by rock legend Meat Loaf and makeover king and Classic FM DJ Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Possible name change for the show featured here along with a very old photo.

 

If this is true, of course I will support him but I'm not sure I'll be delighted that Darius is appearing in another reality tv show :unsure: It's likely to just re-arm the lazy journalists if he does anything less than win it :unsure:

 

What do you guys think?

Popstar to Operastar starts on Friday 15th January ITV1 9pm and if anyone would like to apply for tickets to see the show live in the studio they are available from SRO audiences.

 

As the Sun article states Darius will be known as Darius Campbell from now on - as some of you already know his full surname is Campbell-Danesh but the article doesn't mention that.

 

There is also a new official website coming soon.

 

I'm not sure B.P but I think that might be a new photo of Darius as I know they've done a new photoshoot recently.

Edited January 2, 201015 yr by delphi

Popstar to Operastar starts on Friday 15th January ITV1 9pm and if anyone would like to apply for tickets to see the show live in the studio they are available from SRO audiences.

 

As the Sun article states Darius will be known as Darius Campbell from now on - as some of you already know his full surname is Campbell-Danesh but the article doesn't mention that.

 

There is also a new official website coming soon.

 

I'm not sure B.P but I think that might be a new photo of Darius as I know they've done a new photoshoot recently.

It looked like a pic of him around the time of the pop idol tour to me at first glance. If it is current he's had a close shave with the barber :lol: I had just applied for tickets with SRO and was just coming back to post the link. Not sure if I will get a ticket, but if I do I will certainly attend :)

Darius Danesh has a flow to it that Darius Campbell doesn't. Really wish he hadn't decided to go with the Campbell.

Same here Nina.

 

It's not going to change anything, just arr fuel to fire.

 

Thanks for the info....it will be interesting....

I can see his reason for the change but he is well known with his current surname. I also .think that the show depends on its format..

I remember seeing a similar programme years ago but it was done very seriously and was very good but it didnt have judges like they are proposing on this one. I seem to remember that Bonnie langford was one of the candidates and they discovered that she had a fantastic voice but she doesnt seem to use it, when I say fantastic I mean operatic voice.

Here are a couple of more links to articles about the show -

 

Daily Express

 

STV

 

Daily Mail

 

I expect it will take some time for everyone to get used to the Campbell surname but I'm sure he has very good reasons for the name change and hopefully he'll explain more in due course.

not sure about this, I hated watching him in PS and PI, not because he wasnt good but I just cant abide people judging him - would so much rather he did something else. I know what I usually say about people who do these shows...and I know he does opera so well anyway, would like to hear it used in something more heavy weight than this.

as for Campbell, I am sure we saw this coming, why he was called Campbell in those photos with Natasha for some time now. But I wonder why, surely not just due to past prejudice his name conjoured up. Oh well. I do have a Campbell keyring I got in Scotland some years back due to that family name connection to Darius - perhaps it was an omen.

 

We had seen him use a Campbell a couple of times. Knowing Aria uses a double barrel surname of Campbell-Danesh, it doesn't surprise me. He's always been proud of his roots on both sides and his parents know that.

By MATT BENDORIS

Published: Today

Add a comment (1)

FORMER chart-topper Darius Danesh has changed his surname to Campbell - sparking off a family row.

The ex-Pop Idol singer revealed his new moniker yesterday as he was unveiled as one of the stars of the ITV1 reality show Popstar To Operastar.

 

Campbell is the maiden name of the 29-year-old's GP mum Avril.

 

But the move left his own dad Booth dumbstruck.

 

Speaking from the family home in Bearsden, Glasgow, Darius's retired doctor dad Booth, 67, fumed: "He should just keep it Danesh because everyone knows him as that.

 

 

Shocked ... parents Avril and Booth

"He will be visiting soon and I will certainly be asking him about it then."

 

While Darius's agent Oriana Elia admitted: "I don't know why Darius has changed his surname."

 

The half-Scots half-Iranian hunk came third in ITV1 talent show Pop Idol in 2002 behind Gareth Gates and winner Will Young.

 

He topped the charts in the same year with his debut single Colourblind.

 

Darius has since starred in the West End shows Chicago and Guys And Dolls.

 

But his run in the stage version of Gone With The Wind in 2008 was cut short when the musical was a massive flop. He has since moved to America to live with his Hollywood fiancée Natasha Henstridge, 35, the star of hit film Species.

 

He will now appear as Darius Campbell in Popstar To Operastar, which will be hosted by Alan Titchmarsh and Myleene Klass.

 

The new series for ITV1 - aired later this year - follows the trials and tribulations as pop stars are re-trained as opera singers.

 

But one source claimed the name change was a shrewd showbiz move.

 

The insider said: "Hollywood has gone Scots crazy now that Gerard Butler is a big box office draw.

 

"So Campbell definitely sounds a lot more Scottish which will do Darius a world of good out there."

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/operadarius.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/operaboothandavril.jpg

 

I must admit to being happier if it had been an album release.

I do wonder what his dad will be thinking..would have been more diplomatic to keep to Campbell-danesh like his brother, now it looks like he is spurning his dads name...he could have always used the campbell as his working name in US - oh well.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/operadarius.jpg

 

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v614/megham/2010/operaboothandavril.jpg

 

I must admit to being happier if it had been an album release.

 

 

I was certainly hoping it would be a tour to precede his album release! However, we have all said that he needs to get himself back into the public eye before releasing his album and I suppose he and his new management have decided this new show is the 'way to go'. We all know that he has a very good operatic voice and I just pray that he does well!! But.... Although it is nice to have many 'strings to your bow' I really do hope that this is not the direction he is planning for his career and his album because I am not a lover of opera at all (I would much rather see him perform a duet with Meat Loaf!!) :dance: I love Rhydian as a performer but his albums bore me!!

Regarding D's change of name, I can understand his father being upset and I hope it doesn't offend his many Iranian fans, but I can also understand why he has done it. (Although I agree he could have gone with Campbell-Danesh!) A new year and a new start for him - I just hope this time his career continues on the way up He is so talented, so nice (and so handsome!! :D ) he will always have my support whatever he does (within reason!! :lol: )

 

 

Julie

from the Express

WE’VE already seen celebrities munching insects in the jungle, dancing the tango, and sitting inside a house full of hidden cameras for weeks on end.

Now viewers face a new reality TV show that will challenge eight pop stars to make the leap into yet another unfamiliar territory... the world of opera.

Hosted by Daily Express columnist Alan Titchmarsh and Myleene Klass, pictured above, participants on Popstar To Operastar will have to learn to sing not only in a different style but also a different language.

The unlikely opera wannabes are Blur bassist Alex James; Bernie Nolan, from the Nolan Sisters; platinum-selling artist Jimmy Osmond; Coronation Street actress Kym Marsh; former Pop Idol star Darius Campbell; Danny Jones, of boy band McFly; Vanessa White, of girl band The Saturdays; and Marcella Detroit, of 1980s/90s pop act Shakespears Sister.

All eight singers will be mentored by classical singer Katherine Jenkins and famed tenor Rolando Villazon.

After each performance the pop stars will be analysed by a panel made up of Katherine, Rolando, rock musician Meat Loaf and TV presenter Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen.

Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle is also set to perform with opera legend Andrea Bocelli. The show will start on January 15.

 

 

 

I really don't think he'd have not discussed the name change with his parents. They just aren't that kind of family.

Happy New Year All :)

 

I can remember Darius saying after Pop Stars that he would never appear in another reality TV show - never say never I guess! I don't think changing his name to Campbell will make a jot of difference as most people think of him as just Darius and will probably continue to do so.

 

Not sure about this move, if he doesn't win he may be thought of an also-ran, and for the third time. Also as opera isn't unfamiliar territory for Darius it may be thought he has an unfair advantage. All reality shows are not about talent anymore, they're popularity contest's so not sure where that will place him (first in my book ;) ). I'm usually optimistic but try as I might I'm not feeling it. I so hope by the end of the show I'm back shouting how glad I am to have been so wrong ;)

 

We've all been waiting so long for another album, I wasn't hoping for it to be opera :(

Edited January 2, 201015 yr by Sooz