Popstar to Operastar winner on song to lead the Tartan Army choir when the Scots take on Czechs next week.

The Corries Ronnie Brown will no doubt be an interested onlooker when Darius Campbell leads the Tartan Army in singing Flower of Scotland at Hampden next week.

Folk singer Ronnie normally does the pre-match anthem honours before Scotland games. And a fine job the bearded, kilt wearing, patriotic Scot does too.

But as new national manager Craig Levein leads the national team out for the first time, it seems SFA beaks have decided to ring the changes on the anthem front too.

Popstar to Operastar winner Darius Campbell, better known as Darius Danesh, has been invited to raise the roof and inspire our boys to victory next Wednesday when he belts out Flower of Scotland ahead of the friendly against the Czech Republic.

Proud Scot Darius, who beat out Nolan Sisters singer Bernie Nolan to win the ITV opera talent show last weekend admits he’s looking forward to representing his country.

He told The Sun: “I’m so thrilled. The word “honour” just doesn’t do it justice. It’s not a bad homecoming being asked to sing in front of 50,000 people at Hampden. It doesn’t get better than that.”

SFA chiefs decided to invite Darius to perform after his triumph on the show last weekend.

The Scottish singer, whose hits include Colourblind, sang an aria from The Marriage Of Figaro and performed a duet with his mentor Rolando Villazon.

Other contestants included Blur bassist Alex James and Jimmy Osmond.

But will the 29 year-old reality TV and West End musical star be tempted to deliver our national footie anthem Macopera stylee and give England World Cup staple Nessun dorma a run for its money?

Probably not. Although Celtic fans in the crowd would no doubt welcome a burst or two from the Barber of Seville. While Tartan Army bluenoses would be more than happy singing along to The Magic Flute, but given financial constraint at Rangers might not be so keen on hearing anything from The Beggar’s Opera.

Then there are Scotland fans who’ll be travelling down from the granite city for the game who would no doubt be partial to a bit of Don Giovanni, not to mention Jambos coming West from Edinburgh who would hope Darius could find houseroom for an aria or two from Hamish MacCunn’s Jeannie Deans, which is based on Sir Walter Scott’s novel, The Heart Of Midlothian.

Still at least Darius doesn’t have to worry about brushing up on Benjamin Britten chamber opera The Turn Of The Screw. Apparently that’s being adopted by Chelsea.

More than 23 acts - including Popstar To Operastar winner Darius Campbell, All Angels, Rhydian and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra - will head into the studio on February 27 to record David Foster's The Prayer, originally performed by Andrea Bocelli and Celine Dion. Faryl Smith is recording a charity single with other classical acts

Britain's Got Talent winner Paul said: "It was shocking to see the devastation that the earthquake brought to Haiti - it was inspiring to see among the pain and suffering hope against all odds."

He continued: "I feel privileged to be asked to be part of bringing that hope to the people of Haiti through the classical single for Haiti."

Faryl added: "It's a real honour to be a part of something that is being done for the first time, and I hope that all music lovers get involved and help raise money for the campaign. I really hope that we can make a difference together to help the horrible situation that Haiti is in at the moment."

All proceeds from the single, which will be available to download from March 14, will go to the Disasters Emergency Committee, on behalf of the people of Haiti.

Pop singer and musical star Darius Campbell has won the final of ITV1's Popstar to Operastar contest.

The 29-year-old former Pop Idol contestant, who was known as Darius Danesh, beat Bernie Nolan, of the Nolan Sisters in the final.

The Scottish singer, whose hits include Colourblind, sung The Marriage Of Figaro as well as performing a duet with his mentor Rolando Villazon.

Other contestants included Blur bassist Alex James and Jimmy Osmond.

Coronation Street actress and former Hear'Say band member Kym Marsh and Marcella Detroit of 90s duo Shakespears Sister were knocked out of the contest at the semi-final stage.

Campbell, from Bearsden near Glasgow, rose to fame after finishing third on talent show Pop Idol in 2002.

He has more recently appeared in West End musicals, playing Billy Flynn in Chicago.

Darius Campbell has confirmed that he will release a third studio album after Popstar To Operastar.

The 'Colourblind' singer will compete in tonight's final of the ITV1 reality show against Bernie Nolan. The popstar has revealed that he is looking forward to "hitting the road" when the series ends.

Campbell's last studio album Live Twice was released in 2004.

"I am going to be making a record and releasing my third album. I'm looking forward to hitting the road again and it's great to be back in the UK," he told DS.

"I've spent a lot of time [in] the States and it's great to be back over here. I'm having the time of my life at the moment with this show, singing again, making news friends and working with classically trained experts.

"I'm enjoying this show so much, it will definitely influence the third album."

Campbell scored five Top 10 hits between 2002 and 2005 after he finished third on the first series of Pop Idol. Since then has appeared in West End productions of Chicago, Gone With The Wind and Guys and Dolls.

Pop singers Bernie Nolan and Darius Campbell have been voted through by the public to the final of ITV's Popstar to Operastar contest.

Nolan, of the Nolan Sisters, screamed and clapped her hands after being announced as the first finalist.

Campbell (formerly Danesh) appeared shocked after learning he too had secured a place in the final through viewers' votes, despite some criticism from the panel.

Coronation Street actress and former Hear'Say band member Kym Marsh and Marcella Detroit of 90s duo Shakespears Sister were knocked out of the contest at the semi-final stage.

Asked by co-hosts Alan Titchmarsh and Myleene Klass if they felt disappointed, Marsh replied: "Oh no, I can't wait to see my kids. I will listen to opera now but I don't think I'll sing it again."

Detroit joked: "I am a little bit disappointed, but I'm OK."

The double departure leaves Nolan and Campbell to go head-to-head in next week's final show.

During the programme, the four remaining celebrities performed in front of the four-strong panel comprising mentor and tenor Rolando Villazon, designer and critic Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, mentor Welsh mezzo-soprano Katherine Jenkins and rock star Meat Loaf.

Four contestants were already voted off. They were Blur bassist Alex James, Jimmy Osmond, Vanessa White from The Saturdays and Danny Jones from pop band McFly.

Who can forget such iconic TV moments as Susan Boyle silencing the sniggering judges with her skin-tingling rendition of I Dreamed A Dream?

Or the sight of The Bill's Todd Carty unintentionally skating into the wings during his Dancing On Ice routine?

Indeed, for connoisseurs of the genre, Darius Danesh's falsetto treatment of Britney Spears's Hit Me Baby One More Time, on the Popstars reality show back in 2000, might well carry off first prize. Embarrassing - or what? In homes up and down the land, you could almost sense the milk curdling in millions of bottles.

But Darius went on to make the final ten in the contest, only to be dismissed by judge Nigel Lythgoe after weeks of withering comments. He didn't earn that 'Nasty Nigel' nickname for nothing.

Nigel was merely a foretaste of things to come - as a reality show judge, Simon Cowell would prove even more brutal. Darius left with a pointed parting shot - that he'd have a number one single and a platinum album by the time he was 25. And he was right, achieving his ambitions within a year.

Popstars was nearly 10 years ago and much has changed since then. Darius is now known as Darius Campbell (his mother's maiden name). Gone, too, are the ponytail, goatee and insufferable smugness.

In their place has emerged a courteous young man of 29. There have been hit records along the way, stage musical performances and now the real prospect of emerging victorious in ITV1's Popstar To Operastar.

Then there's Nigel, now 60. He made his name at the end of the Sixties with the Young Generation dance troupe and went on to become Head of Light Entertainment at London Weekend Television.

He was producer of American Idol and is now the mastermind of So You Think You Can Dance.

When Nigel imported the Popstars formula from Australasia, he started the current rash of reality shows. Have we really endured them for a decade now? As a form of punishment, we thought we'd reunite him with old adversary Darius and see how the pair have fared.

Would they cut each other dead? Would they freely swap insults? The encounter could not have been more surprising. When they meet, it's with bear hugs and laughter. It turns out the two men have happily crisscrossed each other's lives over the years.

On reflection, does Darius regret that falsetto Britney cover? 'I wasn't really sure what was going on,' he admits. 'I'd won a radio competition for free entry to Popstars and wasn't taking any of it seriously.

'It's one of those things you look back on and laugh at. We all have bad hair days. My equivalent was a bad song day that happened to be seen by millions of people on TV.'

Nigel recalls: 'Even then, there was no question this man had something. We were as interested in crazies who would make good TV as in good singers. As it turned out, Darius fulfilled both criteria.'

Both men agree that Darius was ill-suited to be a member of Hear'Say, the fivemember band chosen from Popstars hopefuls. 'For a start, he's 6ft 4in,' says Nigel, 'which would have meant he'd have stuck out in a bad way. But also, we sensed his career lay as a solo performer.'

It was to Nigel that Darius turned when a year later he asked whether he should apply to Pop Idol, the successor to Popstars. Nigel had a single word of warning: NO! 'I'd felt guilty about the way we'd belittled Darius on Popstars. I should have known he was thicker-skinned than that. But I'd made it my business to create this monster called Simon Cowell whose remit was to chop off the legs of contestants from below the knee.'

Darius remembers Pop Idol well. 'I'm sure Simon Cowell was looking to get rid of the Popstars finalist - he was setting me up for a fall. But he failed.'

In the end, Darius says he didn't actually want to win - he came third behind Will Young and Gareth Gates. But his single Colourblind topped the charts six months later and his first album, Dive In, did indeed go platinum.

Says Nigel now: 'I knew that Darius had a future in the business. He was the housewives' choice, the sexy one.'

All of this might have been the end of their collaboration had Darius not fallen in love with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge, 35. Darius moved to LA to be with her and found himself bumping into Nigel and his then wife, Bonnie, and they would socialise together.

Sadly, Nigel and Bonnie have now divorced and Darius and Natasha have just called off their engagement.

'A measure of your love for someone,' Darius intones, 'is when you're willing to put their happiness before your own needs.' This translates as: Darius's work is now in the UK, Natasha's in the U.S., so they rarely see one another.

Now Darius is in the semifinal of Popstar To Operastar alongside ex-Hear'Say member Kym Marsh, and her old bandmate Myleene Klass presents the show. Could Darius win?

'That's not up to me,' he says. 'But maybe. At 13, I was given the opportunity to be trained by Scottish Opera. I didn't want to turn my back on school. But I've always wondered, what if? Now I've been given a second chance.'

So, what do they think they'll be doing in 10 years' time? Darius doesn't hesitate. 'Nigel will be dominating the world in some way. He once gave me the best three words of advice ever: Less is more. He's been a sort of silent mentor to me from that day to this.'

And what of Darius's future? 'I think films will be on the horizon for him,' says Nigel, 'as he moves from celebrity status to being an established star.'

DARIUS has blamed the split from the love of his life - Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge - on their long-distance relationship.

The 29-year-old Scot had been dating the Los Angeles-based Species star for more than five years but has now returned to the UK to become an opera star.

Opening his heart for the first time on the breakup, he explained: "We were in love and enjoyed a wonderful engagement.

"But for Natasha to move forward with her life, she needed to stay in Los Angeles and I had to come home to Scotland to work in the UK.

"Sometimes you have to make difficult decisions with love. It doesn't have to be with drama and tears but with a greater sense of gratitude for what has gone before.

"We decided to move forward into different chapters of our lives and careers that don't coincide but allow us to remain friends.

"A deep sense of respect remains. A friendship deepens when you can understand the other person and put their needs first. Sometimes that means you need to let that person go."

As well as being engaged to Natasha, 35, Darius had become a stepdad to her sons - Tristan, 11, and Asher, eight - until the split last month. He says that made the break-up even more difficult. He explained: "I wanted to handle the situation with the kids delicately.

"I didn't meet the children until nine months into the relationship and it was almost a year before they realised I was mummy's boyfriend. Before that, I was just mummy's friend.

"Natasha and I both feel very grateful to have had such an amazing time together. The break-up was only difficult because I had grown to be a strong and close influence in Tristan and Asher's life.

"I shudder to use the word stepfather because I am their friend. It wasn't just a break-up with one person, it was a break-up with all three."

He added that he has nothing but sympathy for fellow pop star Peter Andre, who broke down in tears on live TV when asked how he would feel about his ex-wife's new husband, Alex Reid, having a greater role in his children's lives after the quickie marriage in Las Vegas.

While Peter was married to Katie Price, he said he wanted to adopt her son Harvey by footballer Dwight Yorke, something the former football star described as "disrespectful".

Darius explained: "I saw the interview when Peter broke down in tears. It was heartbreaking. Here is a man that clearly had his heart on his sleeve. That's difficult enough. But on top of that you have a child with a mild disability. That Peter put himself in that position, so loving and protective like a father figure, is really commendable.

"I completely relate to his feeling of loving a child that isn't your own. You still want to protect and nurture them with all your heart.

"Peter said in the interview that he would die for Harvey. I know that feeling - I've had that for the last few years and that won't disappear any time soon."

Recalling the moment when he and Natasha realised they could no longer go ahead with their planned wedding, Darius said: "It was clear our romantic relationship was a success but that it was difficult because it was an epic, long-distance one. I was doing Chicago and would fly from London at 1am on a Sunday morning, arriving in Los Angeles at 4pm that afternoon then having five or six hours with Natasha before getting on the Sunday night flight to be back for my Monday-night performance.

"My contract said I wasn't supposed to leave London. I'd go to great lengths so we could have our weekend time together.

"Natasha supported me when I did Guys And Dolls, playing the role that Ewan McGregor first played in that production. She and the boys fell in love with Glasgow and Edinburgh, spending time with my family." He refuses to be downhearted by the split and says he's not on the look out for another love.

"I don't believe in looking for love. I think love finds you," he explained. "Natasha and I made this decision together and we both feel very excited about the future.

"I learned through my father's illness that there is more to life than tears and drama.

"We haven't lost each other. We're lucky to be living in countries that are safe and free of war.

"I said to Natasha, 'I've not lost you unlike some of the people in Haiti that have lost their loved ones'. I'm grateful to have found someone who will always be a dear friend."

Currently appearing on ITV1's Popstar To Operastar talent show, he hopes to win for his dad, Booth Danesh, who has battled cancer and illness in recent years only to survive against the odds.

"Before Christmas I took my father on a spiritual pilgrimage to Mecca," Darius revealed. "I pushed him in a wheelchair for three weeks and it was one of the most joyful experiences of my life. He's on great form now. He had an operation recently but has recovered, despite some complications."

On Saturday'sPopstarToOperstar, Darius will sing a song from the Marriage Of Figaro and is calling on Scots to get behind his bid to win.

"I'm really keen to progress each week for my dad," Darius said. "I think I disappointed him when I turned down the opportunity to be classically trained in opera as a teenager.

"My performances are inf luenced by my will to make my father proud. I am dedicating my performances to my dad."

You can vote for Darius on Popstar to Operastar tonight on ITV1 at 9pm, and can him on Twitter.