Darius Danesh

The singer, 41, starred on 2002 talent show Pop Idol before having a string of hits and stage roles.

In an interview with Hello! magazine the same year, the star revealed he had been in a car crash in Spain, which had left him with a broken neck. "I came back with a willingness to learn from my mistakes and to simply share my voice and love of music," he added. "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Darius Campbell Danesh," they said in a statement. You know, that doesn't inspire me." The final was watched by more than 13 million people. Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar tweeted: "Sad news of Darius' shockingly untimely passing.

Scottish Colourblind singer Darius Campbell-Danesh, who shot to fame after appearing on UK TV talent show Popstars, has died aged 41. Here's everything we ...

He was in tears at the end of it, as well. Darius Campbell-Danesh was married to Natasha Henstridge, a Canadian actress famous for her role in Species, in a secret ceremony back in 2011. He was the first winner of ITV’s Popstar to Operastar series in 2010. "He said to me, 'I am proud of you. But Darius Campbell reflects that I am Scottish.” He was then voted on to the finals of Pop Idol the following year but turned down a record deal with music mogul Simon Cowell. The book was a Sunday Times sixth best seller. According to Press Association, the former Pop Idol contestant and theatre star Darius Campbell Danesh has been found dead in his US apartment at the age of 41, his family announced. “It turned out I had a cerebral oedema where your brain swells bigger than your skull. He sang it in such a way it brought tears to my eyes. They diagnosed it quickly.” Elsewhere, Darius has appeared on stage in the role of Warden in From Here to Eternity the Musical, and Nick Arnstein in Funny Girl.

Darius was reportedly set to fly back to the UK to film a special Pop Idol reunion special alongside Will Young and Gareth Gates who were “lined up for a ...

“He was charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with.” "He was really excited about the reunion and was in talks with producers to appear on it. “I spoke to Darius recently and he was in good spirits — he was his usual happy self.” The one-off special was said to include never-before-seen footage, while “Will and Gareth were being lined up for a duet,” according to the source. According to a source he was only recently in “good spirits” and was his “happy usual self”. [Darius Campbell Danesh](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/darius-danesh) was reportedly “really excited” to appear in a Pop Idol reunion show just weeks before [his tragic death.](https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-darius-campbell-danesh-dead-27756667)

Singer and actor was found in his apartment in Rochester, Minnesota, on Aug 11, but the cause of death remains unknown.

He was charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with. A statement said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Darius Campbell Danesh. “I’m incredibly grateful for the experiences I’ve had and all the opportunities that it opened up, and to be able to call Simon Cowell a friend and to be able to have dinner with him,” he said. His cause of death is unknown. He credited Cowell with persuading him to take on the role in Chicago, in which he starred opposite America Ferrera, the star of the US sitcom Ugly Betty. Darius was found unresponsive in bed in his apartment room in Rochester, Minnesota, on Aug 11 and was pronounced dead in the afternoon by the local medical examiner’s office.

The pair told how they were close friends of Bearsden-born Darius, who even attended their son's wedding back in 2002, while Colourblind was UK Number 1.

Our thoughts, prayers and love go to his lovely family. Always super kind and generous. Darius - you'll always be with us." Taylor said: “Devastated at the shocking news of the sudden death of our dearly loved friend Darius. That date coincided with the 20th anniversary of Darius getting his first number one with Colourblind. “We celebrated our son and daughter-in-law's 20th wedding anniversary last Thursday. The couple last saw the singer when he popped in for a hair cut in March this year - while his pal Gerard Butler also visited the salon. "We ask that you kindly respect our wishes for privacy at this time whilst we come to terms with the tragic loss of our son and brother." He always caused a stir - sometimes singing for our clients. He recalled fondly: “Indeed Darius came to the wedding and all the guests toasted his chart success - and of course we danced to the track. Our hearts are broken. [Taylor Ferguson](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/in-your-area/lanarkshire/lanarkshire-born-king-crimpers-taylor-27259934) has paid tribute to [Pop Idol](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/darius-danesh-life-after-pop-26710993) star [Darius Danesh](https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/entertainment/celebrity/pop-idol-star-darius-campbell-27756699) and revealed the date of his death coincided with the 20th anniversary of his first number one single Colourblind.

It comes after the 41-year-old behind hit single Colourblind was found dead at this home in Minnesota.

There is no known threat to the public." The Southern Minnesota Regional Medical Examiner’s Office identified the person as Darius Campbell, age 41.” [Simon Cowell](https://www.chardandilminsternews.co.uk/news/national/uk-today/20666581.simon-cowell-remembers-darius-campbell-danesh-pop-idol-star-suddenly-dies-aged-41/) has remembered Darius as “charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with”. “He was charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with. Sharing an update on the star’s cause of death, the statement added: “The investigation into the cause of his death is still pending. The Public Information Officer for the Rochester Police Department said in a statement: “Officers responded to a deceased person call at 11.53am on August 11.

His journey from tryer to survivor to established success story is unlike anything else seen in TV talent show history.

“Darius is a survivor in life,” he said on the show. By the end of 2002, Darius had scored a UK No 1 with the Radio 2 classic Colourblind, landed a top 10 album and was briefly rivalling the established soft-pop dominance of Ronan Keating and Robbie Williams. A key part of the Darius story arrived during Popstars via a promise he made to the judge “Nasty” Nigel Lythgoe. But, crucially, there was always a sense he knew the game he was playing. You know, that doesn’t inspire me.” Instead he signed to Mercury Records and co-wrote his 2002 debut album, Dive In, with the likes of Steve Lillywhite (The La’s, Travis) and The Matrix (Avril Lavigne, Ronan Keating). Dressed somewhere between a roll-necked Steve Jobs and a swashbuckling musketeer, he became the instant star of a show that spectacularly failed in its remit to create stars.

A heartbreaking phone call was made to the police after Pop Idol star Darius Campbell Danesh was found unresponsive in his US apartment before he was ...

The Canadian actress and model, 48, who was married to the former Pop Idol star for two years from 2011 to 2013, penned: "I have found the paradox that is you love until it hurts. Gareth, 38, described his Pop Idol co-star as his 'big brother' as he penned: "I can’t quite believe the news of my dear friend Darius passing. Darius took me under his wing during our time in Pop Idol, like a big brother; always looking out for me and for that I thank you my friend. Forever Janam." "There are no words Darius… Forever in my heart." There is no known threat to the public.” We'll secure the residence." We'll be waiting for Rochester Police Department]to arrive on the scene. [ITV](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/itv) show Popstars in 2001 - also appeared on the first Pop Idol, which was won by [Will Young](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/will-young). [Darius Campbell Danesh](https://www.mirror.co.uk/all-about/darius-danesh) died in his home at the age of 41, and a heartbreaking call has revealed the moment the Pop Idol star was found unresponsive in his US apartment. [confirming the tragic news in a statement](https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-darius-campbell-danesh-dead-27756667) on Tuesday, revealing that he had died 'suddenly'.

Celebrity friends, including Liberty X singers that knew Danesh publicly, expressed their condolences following the news.

R.I.P bro always a gentleman [#darius”.](https://twitter.com/hashtag/darius?src=hashtag_click) [BBC Radio](/topic/bbc-radio) One DJ [Adele Roberts](/topic/adele-roberts) tweeted: “This is so sad. [Vanessa Feltz](/topic/vanessa-feltz), Ben Ofoedu, added to the tributes on Twitter: “This is so sad! He was one of the most beautiful, intelligent and gentle souls I was lucky enough to know, a soul that lit up every room.” She added an opera video clip of Danesh performing Dream the Impossible Dream with Rolando Villazon on Popstars, saying: “Everyone should watch this performance. He was an absolute gentleman & I know all of us who did Popstars with him will remember him with huge fondness. He was charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with.

'There are no words, only love,' said actor.

[Terms of use,](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/user-policies-a6184151.html) [Cookie policy](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/cookie-policy-a6184186.html) and [Privacy notice.](https://www.independent.co.uk/service/privacy-policy-a6184181.html) [Privacy policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy?hl=en) and [Terms of service](https://policies.google.com/terms?hl=en) apply. Danesh and Henstridge began dating in 2004. That in itself was an amazing experience, but a painful one. Danesh previously told The Herald: “It was often a long-distance relationship for half of it. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google By clicking ‘Register’ you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Registration is a free and easy way to support our truly independent journalism [a tribute to Danesh from his Pop Idol co-star Gareth Gates here](/arts-entertainment/music/news/darius-danesh-gareth-gates-tribute-death-b2146376.html), and [other celebrity tributes here.](/arts-entertainment/tv/news/darius-danesh-death-tributes-will-young-b2146268.html)

Darius Campbell Danesh's first song Colourblind went to the top of the UK charts exactly 20 years ago, after his death at 41 was announced.

[sparking tributes](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/16/darius-campbell-danesh-dead-simon-cowell-pays-tribute-to-pop-idol-singer-17194970/) from [across the industry](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/16/darius-campbell-danesh-dead-rylan-leads-tributes-after-pop-idol-star-dies-17194056/), many fans paid homage in particular to his first song Colourblind as an ‘anthem’ and ‘an absolute banger’. [Darius Campbell Danesh was ‘excited’ to be ‘in talks’ for Pop Idol reunion weeks before his death](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/17/darius-campbell-danesh-pop-idol-star-was-in-talks-for-reunion-17196315/?ico=more_text_links) [Pop Idol co-star Gareth Gates](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/16/darius-campbell-danesh-dead-pop-idols-gareth-gates-heartbroken-17194754/) off the top spot in its first week, with his song Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake), before preventing Coldplay from reaching number one with In My Place in its second week. [The Pop Idol and theatre star’s career ](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/16/darius-campbell-danesh-dead-singers-career-following-death-aged-41-17193780/)included TV acting roles, triumph in ITV reality competition Popstar to Operastar and leading West End roles in the likes of Chicago and Funny Girl. [Darius Campbell Danesh](https://metro.co.uk/tag/darius-campbell/) was flying high in the charts exactly 20 years ago his week, as he enjoyed his [hit single Colourblind](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/16/darius-campbell-danesh-dead-fans-remember-hit-colourblind-17194263/) reaching number one. [Campbell Danesh’s death was announced](https://metro.co.uk/2022/08/16/darius-campbell-danesh-dead-pop-idol-star-dies-aged-41-17193686/) by his family on Tuesday, aged just 41, two decades after he soared to the highest heights of the UK Singles Chart.

The Scottish singer, who had a number one hit with Colourblind, was found in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 11.

He was a regular in the salon – most recently he popped in with his friend Gerard Butler. As part of our celebrations in the garden last week we played Colourblind and sang along. “So painfully sad to learn that he’d died on that very day. “He always caused a stir – sometimes singing for our clients…always super kind and generous. Indeed Darius came to the wedding and all the guests toasted his chart success – and of course we danced to the track. We knew Darius from back in his Pop Idol and he became a family friend.

Pop Idol star Darius Danesh almost died twice before his tragic death at aged 41. Many celebrities have been sharing tributes for the star including music ...

I had been flying a lot and picked up bacterial meningitis which at that time was on the rise." He continued: "I had picked up an inflammatory virus from the Thames that had stayed in my system. The charity is said to remove 99.9 percent of all known "water-borne pathogens, bacteria and viruses" - and drank water from a Thames sewage outlet. The terrifying ordeal happened when he filmed a promo clip for his charity Fresh2O Water filter. Darius broke his neck and his "trauma compression injury" was similar to the injury that Superman actor Christopher Reeve suffered - which left him paralysed. He had been a passenger in a Porsche when it hit a wall at 70mph after skidding on oil during a sunshine break in Spain.

Twenty years after it topped the UK charts in 2002, Darius Campbell Danesh's pop hit Colourblind is now topping the iTunes charts following his death aged ...

“He was charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with.” Forever in my heart." So so sad,” Tweeted one fan who shared the news. It was a UK number one and his album Dive In also ranked in the UK top 10. “Number 1 in the uk charts 20 years ago today and back at number 1 in the iTunes Charts today! [pop hit](https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-darius-campbell-danesh-dead-27756667) was number one 20 years ago and now it’s back at the top spot in the iTunes charts after the singer died aged 41.

It was 5pm in the newsroom – when the STV News at Six was almost ready to go – and someone shouted “Darius is dead”. There was an immediate sense of sadness ...

One of the most caring people, he used to come into the hospice and sing to patients and families. Gareth shared his sadness on social media, saying Darius had been like a “big brother” to him, adding: “He was one of the most beautiful, intelligent and gentle souls I was lucky enough to know, a soul that lit up every room.” He was a great friend to the hospice. There was an immediate sense of sadness and while we tried to pull together a fitting tribute, everyone began to reminisce about their memories of the Scottish star – and they were all positive. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Darius Campbell Danesh. And he certainly did just that.