Baytree

It's interesting that the most popular tracks Colourblind, Rushes and Mockingbird were all written by Darius before he ever met Simon Cowell. 16 year old Darius wrote the lyrics for Rushes on the back of 5 bus tickets on the way to school. 'Popstars' Darius complete with pony tail and goatee and wearing a bandana, sang Mockingbird at the Live and Loud festival in Glasgow a couple of months before Pop Idol. I used to have the live version. Sadly I seem to have lost it. Maybe someone else still has lt? Colourblind had already been produced to demo by Deni Lew and Pete Glennister (The Misfits), who produced most of Dive In. Darius turned up to Pop Idol with his guitar because the producers had agreed to let him sing his own song. In the audition room he asked to sing his own song. The judges were OK with that but the executive producer, Nigel Lythgoe (the guy who cut Darius from Popstars), refused and sent him out to re_enter without the guitar. When Cowell had Darius locked into BMG via Pop Idol's final 10 contract, Darius handed him the demo of Colourblind. For less than a minute Simon had both Darius and Colourblind! Just enough time for him to throw the demo tape onto the table and instruct Darius to report to Pete Waterman's studio the following Monday.

Been trying to get back in for ages! Thank you Polly for keeping this thread open. I have resigned myself to the fact that the most amazing human being I have ever met has gone. However I still haven't mastered talking about Darius in the past tense. Maybe posting here will help.

Our esteemed Foreign Secretary, Mr Hunt, payed out more rope by using Canary Wharf and Culloden for alliteration. He couldn't even pronounce the latter's name far less understand how that name and the aftermath of what happened there have resonated down through the centuries throughout Scotland and its diaspora. There are many places in Scotland beginning with C. Only an idiot with no understanding of Scotland/Scots would choose Culloden's name as indicative of a UNITED Kingdom.

. Did you catch the name? I love literature, documentaries and investigative journalism. I knew Guys and Dolls was based on short stories so before I went to see Darius in Liverpool, I read the Damon Runyon stories, courtesy of my local library who ordered the book in for me. I read Gone With The Wind and Donald McCaig's "RHETT Butler's People" before I first went to the Shaftesbury. That's why I was convinced that Darius would make a fine Rhett and posted so when the first rumours of a possible show appeared.

Maybe the bit in yesterday's Metro points to why and maybe it doesn't.. I've never watched the show and never would. I just hope it's a positive experience for all and duty of care is foremost throughout.

Just wondering when he'll tell us Scots that He won't ALLOW another indyref. Maybe he needs #permissionfromSajid first.

Yes, it is. They're using these shows to knock it into shape for Broadway, I haven't read any of the reviews but the soundbites used for further promotion seem to be uniformly excellent. A UK tour of the American production? I'd like to see that out of curiosity. Any indication of timescale yet? Darius is looking very well again. I'm so glad. His hair looks more natural. Thank goodness Darius managed to fit in a visit to Taylor Ferguson.'s salon. He just doesn' t seem to age much. I'm beginning to wonder if he has a portrait in his attic!

Thanks, Polly. So great to hear this. I missed FHTE in the cinema. There are 2 Glasgow dates. Might have to book both, just in case.

Every single year there are rumours that Darius will be going into IACGMOOH or Big Brother. The only current reality show that I could see Darius doing would be Strictly because he'd have time to focus on dance, a skill which could benefit him as both performer and producer. Also, Darius has never been afraid of hard graft to get where he wants to go. Had to go out. However, I'm not sure Darius would ever have the time to do Strictly because it's a big commitment. Weeks of rehearsals before the first shows and if he did get anywhere in it, the tour too. Maybe hope for a Christmas special or some such. BTW what do you think about this year's rumoured change to Strictly? The judges will apparently dance with contestants. Been done in the Australian version.

It says at the top that the article was removed for legal reasons. I read it earlier. I didn't get the impression that Amy was the source at all. My impression was that it was a' 'friend' or 'acquaintance who opined to a reporter or the Sun' story desk to cash in on her upcoming appearance on Love Island.

I'm For, on the whole. I've been interested in this initiative for a few years. One of my local Labour councillors and now a parliamentary candidate has been championing it and raising awareness of the idea for ages. At first he was like a lone voice in the wilderness but he never gave up and he deserves real credit. He was so passionate and enthusiastic that I started to look for info, pros and cons, about the scheme. As always in politics the devil is in the detail. I hope that if the pilots go well, the government and the cIvil service won't overcomplicate it. The current welfare system is an unwieldy mess that's open to mistakes on all sides and misery for so many because it's been chopped and changed so much with changes being made piecemeal over decades.

I 'll wait as long as it takes. I still love his voice, its versatility and above all his range and his ability to blend so well with others in duets or with choirs, especially when he' s singing at the very top of his range. Such control.... It seems effortless. His natural singing voice is deep like his speaking voice but his falsetto and high notes never sound strained.. The exact opposite in fact. They're pure and clear, almost haunting sometimes. Quite remarkable for a bass baritone.

I hope he can squeeze in the music project. Clues to what Darius has done since Funny Girl were lurking right under my nose...... in a link posted by megham on 4th December on her archives Facebook page. I don't know why I missed opening that link until now. He must have spent a great deal of time in the US. Darius the (executive) producer has been a very busy guy, with projects in pre- and post-production, others released and/or shown at film festivals, even winning awards at some of the latter. I bet he was deeply involved in the promotion side beforehand and at the showings themselves.} I think I'll maybe stop moaning and cut Darius some slack. We're only seeing the tip of the iceberg - the few events he can fit in over here. However, I still wish he'd give us forewarning of those he can.

Next showing on Sky Arts is at 1.25 pm on Monday. I watched it for the second time early this morning. I'm still getting used to the tour cast. Really miss Joel Montague's Eddie. I really empathised with his character at the Savoy because emotions seem more intense in the theatre

Thanks for posting the Evening Times article, Polly. I came on to do just that. Music project and film production..... I guess we won't get much info on either until they're nearing launch time. Darius is always careful with his words so I wonder why he says music project rather than album. I'd quite like to see Darius writing and producing a new tour, with an album including new songs. Happy New Year, to one and all.

Really surprised not to see anything on here about the Prince and Princess of Wales hospice event in London on 28th November. This was the London equivalent of the New York event from which Darius had to withdraw, when he took over the rest of the Funny Girl Tour, after Chris left suddenly. There are some photos on Rex Features.

In the American version of From Here To Eternity, Warden sings a song called "At Ease" as a solo number. Did Darius ever sing it or is a new one?

I'm always distracted from the singer's performance by the dancers. I thought Sheridan sang well.

Took a look at the tracks - nobody else, just Sheridan singing some of her favourite songs. My Man which she sang tonight is on it.

From Here To Eternity is playing in Maine till end of this month. It just had its press night. Seems to be same version as the Finger Lakes one.

Voted.

I haven't checked but I think Bayleaf was a character in The Herbs. I was right. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Herbs#Characters

Just can't stay away from all the scintillating repartee on the Darius infused retro forum.

Another coincidentally funny thing I found online was about people whose lives would make good films and which actors should play them. Darius's film would cover Popstars to a triumphant Top of the Pops. Darius would be played by..... Orlando Bloom.

Jacqui was/is lovely. She was there to support Darius when he won Popstars to Opera Stars. She seems very happy with Guy.