Julia W

Hi Polly, this was in Saturday's Daily Mail: Tragic Darius was to star as Caesar Much-loved singer and actor Darius Campbell, who was laid to rest in Glasgow on Thursday, was planning a sensational return to the West End stage. I can reveal that the former Pop Idol contestant, 41, who was found unresponsive in a flat in the US earlier this month, had been invited to star as Julius Caesar in a lavish new musical, Cleopatra. 'I wanted him to play the male lead because of his tremendous talent and presence on stage - and that powerful voice,' his friend Rawaa Barnes tells me. 'I could think of no-one else who could capture the charisma and majesty of Caesar, who could charm anyone'. Rawaa, who lives in Chelsea with her banker husband, Nicholas Duffy, has written the libretto and score for Cleopatra. She adds of Darius: 'They don't make them like that any more. Handsome and 6ft.4ins he was perfect for the role and was very much looking forward to returning to the London stage.' :cry: I still don't believe that he has gone!! He had so much more to give and I really thought we would all be supporting him all the way to the top! :cry: I must google Rawaa and Nicholas Duffy! :( Julie

I just can't take this in!!!.......I'm absolutely devastated! :cry: :no:

Yes....bad news, I'm afraid! Stuart Brayson has replied on Twitter that 'it will be a totally new cast'! :cry: Such a shame.....Darius was soooo good as Warden! :wub: In fact, I thought all the characters were well cast! I wonder if the new cast will be newcomers or 'star' names.... we will see! :) Julie

They certainly seem to be together quite a lot, don't they!! Has Gerard recently split up with his partner? And.....yes.....I think the sign behind does mean 'no dogs' :lol: Nice to see them out and about :D Julie

Just read the article and everyone involved in the production ( apart from Stuart and Tim of course) are completely different. It sounds like a lot of changes have been made! I won't hold my breath about Darius being involved but still curious to find out the differences made. I love the story and the music.....maybe more music has been added..... it will be interesting! :dance: Julie

Hi Polly.....I'm still here! :hi: I've just got back from a few days away. I think a few of us still pop in to see if there is any news.....you seem to always be one of the first to find out anything! :D ....and I'm sure we all appreciate it! It's wonderful that FHTE is going to be given another chance on the West End. It would be great if D had been working on other projects while he waited to take up his role as Warden again - I wonder how long it will be before the cast is announced!? Even if Darius isn't involved, FHTE is still my favourite musical and I think I will probably book to see it again and find out what changes have been made. Please keep posting any news when you can - that is for as long as Buzzjack still want us, of course! :) Julie

Thank you Polly! :D Nicky Chapman and Pete Waterman particularly liked Darius so let's hope someone mentions him even if he doesn't contribute himself! :) Julie

Morning Polly I couldn't understand why some people thought Poodle might be Darius apart from maybe his height! The voice was nothing like D and I'd know his legs anywhere!! -_- :lol: I had hoped that he might make an appearance on the show as it would mean he wanted to get back into the public eye as he had something to promote! :cry: Will appeared and he has a tour coming up....just a shame we can't say the same for Darius!! Julie

Darius was spotted in the crowd yesterday at a rugby match Scotland v. South Africa. He was with Gerard Butler!! I wonder if they could possibly be working together! :thinking: Anyway......it's good to know that he is still in the UK! :D Julie

Wonderful news!!! my favourite musical! :dance: I just hope that they keep the original cast! :wub: Julie

Hi Polly :hi: Good to see you're still around! This awful pandemic seems to have drained everyone of any enthusiasm for anything!!! I do so hope that some 'normality' will gradually return and we will look on the future with positivity! :unsure: Wherever Darius is, I hope he is having a very special day! :birthday: I do wonder if we will ever get to see him on stage again! I hope all his family are well and whatever he is doing, he is happy! :) Hopefully one day soon we will hear what he is up to! Julie

Hi Polly...a happy New Year to you! :D The same article was in the Daily Mirror and on several news websites. I'm hoping they are suddenly bringing his name out into the public again as they know he will be involved with a project/musical in the UK when it is possible to do so! :lol: You never know!! :rolleyes: In these times, it's hope that keeps us all going!! :D Julie

Thank you Polly....I haven't seen Funny Girl on the TV yet so will try to remember to watch! Haven't heard anything about Darius since he's been back....seems funny to me that the documentary he is supposed to be producing is still filming and he's over here. Maybe his work Visa has run out! Obviously he wants to spend Xmas with his family but hopefully he will be here for a while. I would love him to appear on 'The Masked Singer'....I'll be watching just in case :D I don't think 'House Red' has ever been on general release - it was just shown at a film festival. Hopefully it will be released over here when we get back to some sort of normality! Hope you have a lovely Xmas...stay safe! Julie

Brilliant!!! so good to see him :dance: He looks very well :wub: Thank you Polly! Julie

Hiya Polly...What happened to Gizmo.....was that you? :unsure: Thank you for posting the full video.....it wasn't what I was expecting but interesting! It was just a shame that the one person who had the most information (Tim Rice) was very unclear and I couldn't understand much of what he was saying! Darius is still in LA - I don't know whether he has been back to the UK at all since the outbreak of coronavirus :cry: If he has then he was very quiet about it! He is producing a documentary called 'American Dreamland' and it is filming now so I assume he is still over there. Julie