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

:lol: :rolleyes: It would be lovely if it was true!! :D Harwich isn't too far away from me and he might come for a visit!! :lol: Julie

Thanks Polly.....really enjoyed listening to that! I can't believe that there had to be an advert in the middle of a 24 minute podcast!! :rolleyes: Tim didn't really say anything that we didn't already know but it's re-assuring to know that he stills thinks FHTE will once again grace the West End :cheer: It would be wonderful if the show still included the original cast but I won't hold my breath!! I feel that they would probably have to try for bigger names to gain public support initially : :( : We will have to wait and see. FHTE has been one of my favourite musicals that I have seen so......even if Darius didn't appear :cry: ....I would still love to see it again! Julie

Just to say that when asked what he had been up to Darius replied that he had been working on a concept album with the possibility of some tech making it a more audio visual experience.....but he couldn't elaborate!!?? I had to google what a concept album is and it is one that is 'unified by a theme, which can be instrumental, compositional, narative or lyrical' :thinking: Hopefully, we will find out more at some point! :unsure: :D

Thanks Polly.....you did well :D It wasn't what I really expected.......I thought Darius and the cast would sing!! :cry: However, it is good news that we will probably get a UK tour. Stuart Brayson has been talking about it happening for ages and......the way things are atm, that's probably how long we will have to wait.....ages!! Maybe the ticketholders will have more news....I hope so... will let you know. :D Julie

Thanks Polly, I can see it now. Darius seems to like wearing a hat.....I've seen him wear quite a variety! I just think he wears them when he has a 'bad hair' day :lol: I don't suppose Tim Rice would want to commit to anything as everything is so uncertain in the theatre world. Looking at the expressions on all their faces they don't look very sure what they are supposed to be doing!! :)

Hope the cast get to sing something! What time does it end? I can't get the picture up on the link you have given :(

Looking forward to what we may find out tonight! To me it all looks very confusing but hopefully everyone with tickets will muddle through and enjoy themselves! At least it looks like Darius is determined to make it. It will be interesting to hear how it goes :dance: :unsure: Julie

Hi Polly....I'm just so glad that at long last we have heard of something he is likely to be involved with! There are several of his fans on Facebook who are going to/have already bought tickets. I don't think I will get involved as I just wouldn't have a clue what to do. Facebook friends have offered to help but I'm just not brave enough to try on my own!! :wacko: They do also say that guests are likely to change depending on Wifi connection....I would be so upset if he didn't appear! FHTE is my favourite musical he has appeared in so I hope the evening is a success and Darius shows up......hopefully with some news about what he intends to do next! It will be interesting to hear what happens. Julie

Hi Polly I am so pleased that you do keep posting and really appreciate it! I'm sure that there are a few of us still here browsing to find out any news. I post occasionally but I always seem to be late discovering if anything is going on! I think we tend to rely on you as you always seem to find out first!! :D I am surprised to find out that he is still in LA and not in Glasgow with his parents but hopefully it must mean that he is working out there.....I just hope that we haven't lost him completely! :( Whatever he is doing (producing, acting, music??) I wonder why he is not keeping his supporters in the loop.....it is a shame....I hope he will eventually let us know! Julie

At long last, Natasha's film 'House Red' that Darius produced is being released on 13th May! It's been completed for ages.....wonder why it took so long to be released! Julie