SCOTS pop star Darius reckons his life story is just like controversial rapper Eminem's rags to riches rise.

Darius claims that the rapper's movie 8 Mile, which is based on his upbringing in a tough Detroit neighbourhood, struck a chord with him.

The privately-educated singer, who comes from a plush suburb of Glasgow, said: "Although I didn't grow up in a trailer park, I relate to that feeling.

"8 Mile was great, it made me write my album. It had ideas like seizing the moment and not being afraid. That's why I did the album."

CHEESY crooner DARIUS DANESH has opened his heart about the “booze hell” he suffered after he was rejected by Popstars.

It was his rendition of Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby (One More Time) which made him a national joke.

Darius chose yesterday’s RICHARD AND JUDY telly show to speak about how the ridicule sent him off the rails.

Darius said: “It was hard I hit the bottle for a bit.”

Good to see rock ’n’ roll isn’t dead.

Stressed at not being able to pay your university fees? Wonder how you're going to make ends meet? Why not apply to the next Pop Idol show and get an honorary degree? Rangy pop crooner and Pop Idol contestant Darius Danesh has just got his, despite never finishing it!

Darius will be awarded an honorary degree in English Lit from Edinburgh University next month. The double D man quit his course in the third year to appear on Pop Idol and had always planned to go back to university to finish the degree.

Dazza, who releases his new single, 'Incredible' on Monday, said: "I couldn't believe it. I have a five album deal and was planning to go back between album three and four to finish it off." Albums three and four? A bit of wishful thinking there surely Darius?

SQUEAKY-CLEAN pop star Darius yesterday revealed he was once in a drunken bar brawl as he launched a crackdown on youth crime.

The Scots singer, known for his clean-cut image, was speaking at the launch of a mentoring campaign by Crimestoppers Scotland.

He said: "The brawl was during my student days and it is not something I am proud of.

"I wish there had been a scheme like this back then which offered an alternative to getting into trouble."

The mentoring programme encourages children to help other kids who need guidance

Baltic was full of love last night as the most resilient singer to come out of the reality TV pop music bubble played an exclusive gig for 300 fans.

Darius Danesh, the man with more comebacks than Frank Sinatra, arrived at the impressive venue after it was revealed at the last minute the mystery gig, which lucky fans from all over the country had been waiting to attend, would be taking place on Gateshead's Quayside.

And judging by the volume of their cheers and screams he did nothing to disappoint the faithful.

Darius began with an acoustic version of his number one hit, Colourblind, which was followed by a list of tracks from his debut album, Dive In - to which the audience sang along impressively knowing every word.

And throughout the gig he managed to find time to spray the crowd with champagne and engage in a question and answer session with the crowd.

One excited girl asked for a kiss - which was politely answered with a peck - while another managed to find out the singer, who spread his message of love in the first series of Popstars, later returning for another bite of fame in Pop Idol (and came third), was single.

Cue a piercing scream from a group of hopeful ladies of all ages, which basically meant 85pc of the audience.

Speaking in his dressing room before the gig, Darius heaped praise on Baltic, which is more accustomed to exhibiting contemporary art.

He said: "I can't believe how amazing this building is inside.

"I have always loved it from the outside and admired it from the Tyne Bridge, but it's just stunning when you get inside.

"It's a terrific venue to play in, and perfect for this kind of intimate concert.

"I can't wait to get on stage and play."

Last night's concert was only the second time Darius had played a live set with his newly-formed band.

He said: "We played at Abbey Road studios last night, which was a dream come true when you think of all that has gone on in there.

"These gigs are really just a way to say thank you to some of the fans who have supported me and a warm up for the big tour in May."

And he added that he was looking forward to coming back to the North-East during the Dive In tour - to play for a much bigger audience at Newcastle City Hall on June 5.

He said: "It's always a great pleasure to play in the North-East and it will be nice to come back with a tour in my own right after playing last year with the Pop Idol tour."

Last night's concert was organised by a number of radio stations around the country, including the North-East's Magic 1152.

He was at the Book Awards last night where Michael Moore's anti-war rant 'Stupid White Men' won Book of the Year, and revealed he's writing one himself.

Other winners included Trinny and Susannah for Film and TV Book for 'What Not to Wear'.

We're not sure if Darius is quite at that level yet, but he reckons he's well qualified:

"I studied English Lit at school and it was always a love of literature that made me want to be a better lyricist than a songwriter. I certainly don't want to write an autobiography, but I wanted to write something that I thought people might be interested in reading."

"It's a book that I hope is gonna appeal to a wide range of people, the type of person that maybe realises that there's a big difference between perception and reality..."

SURVIVOR winner Jonny Gibb wants to fight pop heart-throb Darius in the latest celebrity charity boxing challenge.

Jonny, 31, who won £1million in the TV reality show, is already hard at training at an amateur boxing club.

The stars hit it off when they met at the Sunday Mail Great Scot awards last year.

The rugged ex-cop said: "I quite fancy a fight against Darius. He looks a fit chap and it would make for an interesting three rounds."

He added: "Darius comes across as a bit cheesy on TV but he seemed like a really nice guy when we met, so there's no malice there."

But when the Sunday Mail reminded 5ft 7in Jonny that Darius was a strapping 6ft 4in, he gulped... and said maybe Darren Day would be a better opponent.

Jonny, who lives in Edinburgh with firefighter girlfriend Ruth Lynn, told us: "Darren came across as a bit arrogant on Celebrity Survivor.

"I'd like the chance to take him down a peg or two."

Jonny's been sparring with talented young boxer Kenny Anderson, 20, at Elston Cadle Boxing Club in Danderhall, Midlothian.

He promised any bout he took part in would be much better than the recent televised fight between Ricky Gervais and Grant Bovey.

He said: "They were like a pair of big girls' blouses."

Jonny only stepped into the ring to get fighting fit but says he has become hooked on the sport.

He said: "I love the aggression. It gives me a total rush. There is so much adrenalin involved."

HERE is the pop prize of the year - the chance to see Darius perform live in the legendary room where the Beatles recorded many of their classic songs.

Darius and his label Mercury Records have teamed up with 192 for this amazing opportunity to catch the Scots chart- topper in The Beatles Room of the world famous Abbey Road Studios.

We have a PAIR of tickets to this amazing concert on February 25, so the winner will be able to take along a friend for the exclusive gig. The winners will be provided with transport and put up in a London hotel where they'll spend the night after the gig before going home the next day.

For the chance to win tickets to see Darius at Abbey Road, just answer the following question: What is Darius's surname?

Then call the hotline with your answer on 0901 562 8706 and leave your answer, name, address, daytime telephone number and date of birth. All calls cost 60p a minute and lines will close at noon on Friday, February 14, 2003.

Seek permission from the person who pays the bill before calling. Usual Daily Record rules apply. Editor's decision is final.

The British tabloids are on the hunt for St. Léonard cutie Mirella Dell'Aquila, the 20-year-old Vanier music student who was chosen a couple of years back on the Global TV show Popstars to be a singer with the manufactured group Sugar Jones.

It seems Sugar Jones's Canadian hit, the catchy Days Like That, is set to be released in Britain and someone started a timely rumour that Dell'Aquila is engaged to a handsome 21-year-old pop star named Darius Danesh who happens to be very popular in Glasgow. (And all the publicity got Dell'Aquila's mug plastered on a lot of British newspapers this week.)

Dell'Aquila's dad, Tony, tells me his home phone has been ringing off the hook from British reporters looking for his daughter and trying to get to the bottom of the story.

"They're telling me Mirella's engaged to this Darius, but it's the first I heard of it," he said.

He said his oldest daughter, who quit Vanier to go on the road with Sugar Jones, is in London this week recording a solo track. She was in Montreal for a visit two weeks ago.

"She told me a year ago that she met Darius and that he was a big star, but that was it," he said. "She hasn't really spoken about him. When I saw her she wasn't wearing a diamond ring."

Anna Adams, an editor with the Sunday Mirror in Glasgow, said her paper was going to go to press today with a story that Dell'Aquila's publicity team planted the story to maximize her exposure before Days Like That is released. (Has anyone got today's Scottish Sunday Mirror?? - H)

Dell'Aquila's Toronto manager, Gary Francis, wouldn't comment on whether rumours of the engagement were true or false.

"Mirella is a very talented young lady. We're just getting started with her," he said. "We're trying to do a Jennifer Lopez with her because she's got the look and the talent."

Francis said the raven-haired beauty also wants to break into movies and has a starring role in Angel Tears, a film by Montreal director Minor Mustain that is scheduled to be shown at this summer's Jazz Festival.

Dell'Aquila will be back in Canada at the end of this month to be a presenter at the Radio Music Awards in Toronto.

FEMALE fans of Darius Danesh can breathe a sigh of relief - the chart- topping Scots hunk is still "single and having fun".

Darius last night laughed off reports in a downmarket English tabloid that he is to wed a wannabe Canadian popstar.

He admits it is a measure of his fame that he is perpetually being linked to women, but says he hasn't the pleasure of meeting many of them.

And he has opened his heart to 192, setting the record straight on the string of rumoured romances.

According to the sleazy tabloid's showbiz editor, Darius is engaged to be married to Mirella Del'Aquila of Canadian Popstars band Sugar Jones.

But Darius told 192: "I'm single just now, but I have heard that I'm dating a girl from a Canadian pop band.

"I don't even know her name, but the story was that I met her at Party In The Park.

"As usual, it's a case of me being linked to random girls that I happen to have been standing close to at various parties.

"There was a photo of me with the girl group and they cropped the picture so that it was me and the ugly one. Do you know what I mean?"

He told me: "At least you've always had the courtesy to ask the question before assuming that I am dating every girl I speak to.

"I don't read half the Press, but my mum and dad get clippings from the Daily Record, which got behind me during Pop Idol. The truth is I'm young, free and single and I'm not looking for a serious relationship.

"How can I take anything seriously right now when I'm having the time of my life with my music?

"I'm not going to get married. I'm too young for that."

The latest rumour follows the same London tabloid's claim in October that he had fallen for posh It girl,Venetia Hibbert.

The truth is Venetia, who once posed with fried eggs on her breasts, shares a flat in London with Darius.

Darius says the rumours had them in stitches because they are just pals.

He laughed: "Yes, that's another one of the girls I'm apparently seeing.

"My family home in Glasgow is still my base and I live in hotels apart from Edinburgh, where my brother is studying.

"I have a flat in London with two flatmates. One is Venetia Hibbert, who is an old mate.

"They made up a story about me sleeping on a floor and being tidy which just isn't true. But if you send a photographer, you might see me hanging out the washing with my Marigolds on."

He added: "What I don't understand is that there are at least five girls I've been reported as seeing, but they haven't picked up on the girls I've dated in recent months and taken to dinner."

He has also been the subject of long-held rumours that he is dating Leanne Johnson, an employee of Glasgow beauty salon Taylor Ferguson.

But Darius is genuinely shocked when I suggest there's no smoke without fire.

He laughed: "Shut up, man. You're winding me up. It's not true." He also denied he is still dating his childhood sweetheart, Edinburgh medical student Rachel.

He insisted: "We split up last February.

"It was around that time, but I have never talked about my relationships because it is not for me to drag people who aren't in the public eye into it.

"I'm not likely to advertise the fact that I have broken up with someone."

A PLOT to fleece young fans of Scots pop hunk Darius into paying for a phantom concert were uncovered last night.

Teenage garage outfit the Blazing Squad were also supposed to be performing at the non-existent event in Feltham, west London, dubbed the Romantic Rendez Vous Secrets Night.

But late last night, Scotland Yard warned fans not to buy the £12 tickets for the event, supposed to be taking place on February 15 at the North Feltham Trading Estate, according to flyers being distributed in London.

The owner of the venue contacted police after discovering leaflets advertising the event.

A Scotland Yard spokes-man said: "The owner had not given permission for the concert to take place and during police investigation, it became apparent that neither the band nor the artist named would be making an appearance."

The hoax comes a day after Darius was at the centre of marriage speculation.

But Darius last night laughed off reports in a downmarket English tabloid that he is to wed a wannabe Canadian pop star.

And he opened his heart to 192, setting the record straight on the string of romances he is rumoured to have enjoyed.

According to the sleazy tabloid's showbiz editor, Darius is to wed Mirella Del'Aquila of Canadian Popstars band Sugar Jones.

But Darius told 192: "I'm single just now, but I have heard that I'm dating a girl from a Canadian pop band. I don't even know her name, but the story was that I met her at Party In The Park.

"As usual, it's a case of me being linked to random girls that I happen to have been standing close to when pictures have been taken at various parties.

"At least you've always had the courtesy to ask the question before assuming that I'm dating every girl I speak to. The truth is I'm young, free and single and I'm not looking for a serious relationship.

"How can I take anything seriously right now when I'm having the time of my life with my music? I'm not going to get married. I'm too young for that."

The latest rumour follows the same London tabloid's claim in October that he had fallen for posh It girl,Venetia Hibbert.

The truth is Venetia, who once posed with fried eggs on her breasts, shares a flat in London with Darius.

Darius said: "My family home in Glasgow is still my base and I have a flat in London with two flatmates. One is Venetia Hibbert, who is an old mate.

"They made up a story about me sleeping on a floor and being tidy, which just isn't true. But if you send a photographer, you might see me hanging out the washing with my Marigolds on."

He added: "What I don't understand is that there are at least five girls I've been reported as seeing, but they haven't picked up on the girls I've really dated and taken to dinner in recent months."

It has long been rumoured that Darius has been dating Leanne Johnson, an employee of Glasgow beauty salon Taylor Ferguson, but he was shocked when I suggested there's no smoke without fire.

He laughed: "Shut up, man. You're winding me up. It's not true."

Darius also denied he is dating his childhood sweetheart, Edinburgh medical student Rachel. He said: "I have never talked about my relationships because it is not for me to drag people who aren't in the public eye into it, but we split up last February.

"And I'm not likely to advertise the fact that I have broken up with someone."

Police investigating the south London gig con have asked anyone who has bought tickets or has any information about those involved to contact their local police station or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A WAR of words has broken out between DARIUS DANESH and the girl who says she’s going to marry him.

Yesterday, MIRELLA DELL’AQUILA from Canadian Popstars band SUGAR JONES, insisted he had proposed.

But if he has, I can’t see their marriage lasting long.

Speaking from Germany where he is on tour, he said: “She’s clearly off her rocker if she thinks I’d marry her. I wouldn’t mind if she wasn’t a talentless wannabe — and the least pretty one in her crap band. It would be funny if it wasn’t so insulting — I mean, this is going to damage my chances of pulling!”

But Mirella’s record company spokesman Max Dillon insisted: “It’s true — they ARE engaged. He’s only denying it because it doesn’t fit with his image.”

Darius has denied newspaper reports that he's engaged. He's currently in Holland, promoting 'Colourblind'. He told Radio 1 he was very bemused by the story that he proposed to a girl called Mirella Dell'Aquila from a unknown girl band. Apparently he popped the question over the New Year, which he's confused by, especially as he was in South Africa at the time with his brother:

"No, I'm not engaged! I've only met this unfortunate girl once six months ago at an Oxford gig when a manager insisted I had my photograph taken with the group. I don't know her name. I can't even pronounce her name. I think it's quite funny. But it's an even bigger shame she's not even the pretty one from the group!"

Darius told us he's been seeing a couple of girls lately, including someone much higher profile, but he's also just had his first royalty cheque so he's enjoying his single status.

POP star Darius's dad last night rejected claims his son had become engaged.

Reports claimed the 22-year-old had proposed to Canadian girl-group singer Mirella Del'Aquila on a trip to his native Scotland. But his father Dr Booth Danesh said he'd never heard of Mirella - and Darius had not been to Scotland in the last two months.

Dr Danesh, of Bearsden, near Glasgow, said: "This is just nonsense. There is no engagement. Darius is very close to his family and if he was getting married, we would definitely be the first to know. He would not leave it for us to find out from the Press. He does not have a girlfriend just now and we have never heard of this Canadian girl. Darius has never even mentioned her. He hasn't been in Scotland for the last two months either, so if he'd proposed to her up here I'm sure we would have known by now. This is just totally made up and it doesn't surprise me to hear she's in a band. Someone has just made this up to get it in the papers."

Newspaper reports last night said Darius had been seeing Mirella since the summer and popped the question at New Year. But Dr Booth insisted his son hadn't been in the country since the start of December - and was still unattached.

Darius was named one of the UK's 20 most eligible bachelors last month.

Darius Danesh is to marry his Canadian girlfriend Mirella Dell'Aquila.

The Pop Idol star reportedly proposed to the Sugar Jones singer during a New Year break in Glasgow. But it is thought that Mirella, whose band won the Canadian version of Popstars, kept him waiting for three days before she said yes.

They are hoping to set a date for the wedding in the coming weeks, after searching for a home in London. The pair have been dating since meeting at Party In The Park in Oxford last summer.

A spokesman for Sugar Jones told The Sun: "I can confirm that Mirella and Darius are now engaged."

The Pop Idol and Popstars hunk proposed to SUGAR JONES singer Mirella during a New Year’s break in Glasgow. Mirella — whose band won the Canadian version of Popstars — kept the Scottish star waiting for three days before she said yes. They are hoping to set a date for the wedding in the coming weeks.

A friend of Mirella’s told me: “Darius and Mirella spent Christmas apart but she flew over from Montreal for ten days to be with him — that’s when he proposed. It was after a romantic meal in Glasgow that Darius got down on one knee and asked Mirella to marry him. However, Mirella then kept him in suspense. She said yes just as she was about to board her flight back to Canada.”

Darius and his wife-to-be will be searching for a home in London next week. They have been dating since last summer after meeting at Party In The Park in Oxford. My source said: “Darius was smitten from the moment he met her. He even wanted her to be a leading lady in one of his videos but the Sugar Jones management said no.”

A spokesman for Sugar Jones said: “I can confirm that Mirella and Darius are now engaged.”