HEART-THROB Darius is set to make waves when he plays Belfast as part of his 'Dive In' tour.

The Glaswegian singer will play the Waterfront Hall on April 30.

It's the second time the Pop Idol finalist has played the Belfast venue, having entertained guests at the Big Buzz Awards last year.

Darius fever has gripped the nation since he burst onto our screens as a contender in Popstars.

After critics slated his performance of Britney Spears' Baby Hit Me One More Time, many people thought Darius would disappear.

Instead he re-invented himself and returned to take part in Pop Idol, earning himself a place in the hearts of the nations.

With the support of the viewing public, he made it into the final three, alongside Gareth Gates and Will Young.

Last year he was signed to Mercury Records by Steve Lillywhite, the legendary U2 and Travis producer.

His debut single Colourblind stormed to number one in the UK singles chart, where it stayed for two weeks.

Tickets for Darius' show will go on sale on Friday, February 7, at 10am, priced £21.

SCOTS pop star Darius Danesh is set to go head-to- head with Britain’s longest serving MP in the battle to be the rector of Edinburgh University.

Rumours are rife amongst students that the Pop Idol runner-up is to stand for election to the prestigious post against Father of the House Tam Dalyell.

Mr Dalyell is said to be favourite to land the title after he wowed students in his talk at the university last week by slamming top-up fees, unethical investment and the war on Iraq.

In contrast, 21-year-old Darius - a former student at Edinburgh University - is fast becoming one of Britain’s rising stars in the music business after signing a five-album record contract with Mercury Records.

Current rector Robin Harper, Scotland’s only Green MSP, is standing down after a successful three-year term. A spokesman for Darius today declined to confirm or deny that the singer would stand for election, but students at the university said they would welcome his nomination.

Jeremy Kemp, a third-year psychology degree student at the university, said the Pop Idol would definitely get his vote. Mr Kemp, 21, president of the university’s satirical Piffle Society, said: "I think Darius is definitely a worthy candidate. I hope he stands because it would be really interesting to see who the students would opt for - frivolous, token pop versus a heavyweight old timer.

"A lot of the students have been talking about Darius. Some have been horrified by the idea, while others have actually been for it as he would be a refreshing change. He certainly has the right hair, teeth and determined attitude that would appeal to a lot of us."

Rachel Hunter, vice president of the university’s students association, today said that Darius had not yet officially nominated himself, but added that he was welcome to stand if he was serious .

She said: "We haven’t heard anything official about Darius standing, but it was mentioned by a couple of students at Tam Dalyell’s speech on Thursday.

"Anyone is welcome to stand for nomination for the post of rector, provided they have the backing of 40 people. We are however looking for someone who will be committed and take the role seriously.

"One of the rector’s responsibilities is to chair the university court so we will be looking for someone who is dedicated to the task, whoever that may be."

A spokesman for Mercury Records, representing the singer, said: "Darius is currently on holiday so we haven’t spoken to him about his intentions as of yet."

When Mr Dalyell was asked by a student last week at his university talk how he would feel competing against Darius, the West Lothian MP said he had not even heard of the singer. He then told the audience to "vote for a pop star if you want".

Many believe 70-year-old Mr Dalyell, the longest-serving member of the Commons, is ideal for the post of rector.

An Old Etonian, he has adopted a string of international causes throughout his tenure as an MP. After the Falklands War, Mr Dalyell dogged the Government with questions on whether the sinking of the General Belgrano had been justified. He also pressed the Government over the SAS shooting of three IRA terrorists in Gibraltar and consistently questioned ministers over the Lockerbie bombing.

Other names linked to the post besides Darius and Mr Dalyell include former BBC journalist Sheena McDonald, Harry Potter author JK Rowling and Sir David Steel, Presiding Officer at the Scottish Parliament.

The successful candidate will join a prestigious line-up of past rectors that includes former Prime Minister William Gladstone.

Mr Dalyell was unavailable for comment today.

Darius has sensationally named the person who hated him the most during his PI days -himself

The pop hunk, who had a number 1 single with CB, confessed what I saw I really did not like. I even considered giving up at one time. I had to face facts pretty quickly, as within weeks my family were being chased by the press and I was headlining 4 national papers. Settling in to his new london pad. he told OK mag. "I hit a wall and I had a choice of either climbing over it or crashing head first into the rubble (the rest of it is just the ok interview)

He also revealed how he agonised over Cowell's record deal, he said not signing was a huge decision for me,everyone around me was saying sign,sign,sign abd release a record of the back of pop idol. and when everyones advice was contrary to my gut feeling, to release my own stuff,spurn the offer and wait until the madness had died down it was hard

He says a friend called him telling him about Darius so he wanted to hear his music. Colourblind ended up on his desk.

Lillywhite immediately knew he was listening to a Number 1 act.

I didn't really know about Darius being on Popstars he admits . "I just liked what I heard. I told him to go and rewrite the middle eight in the song. I said " Record a stronger vocal, add more guitar in the choruses and we will have a hit record."

Darius himself gives an excited account of how Lillywhite has transformed him career. " Steve made everything happen so quickly. When we met I told him I wanted to write an album. I felt empowered by his enthusiasm - to get encouragement from such a legend is amazing. He has provided so much advice and wisdom."

Lillywhite says Darius has repaid his faith. "If you'd said to me when I started this job. In six months time you will have a No 1 song and a top five album with an artist like Darius I would have thought that was ridiculous. I am overwhelmed".