Nina's Darius World

[Laughs] Let's just say he has trouble buying shoes because he's a size 13 - we always have to go to America to buy his trainers. And his feet are not big on him - it's all in proportion.

Blimey. And does he wear anything underneath his kilt?

No, never. He's a true Scotsman.

What's this we hear about the engagement being called off?

The truth is there's never been an engagement, so it hasn't been called off. Darius bought me a ring - just a band - as a birthday present, and that's it. We're too young to be thinking of getting engaged. We're both at the start of our careers and we are taking each day as it comes.

Do you want kids one day?

Oh yes, I love kids. I always used to babysit when I was little for no money. I used to tell the parents to go out! And Darius is fantastic with kids - his youngest brother's nine so he's always had him to look after. Plus, he's a big kid himself.

How aware of Darius were you before you met him?

I hadn't watched the TV shows (Popstars and Pop Idol) because I'd been away, but I'd heard lots of different thing about him being controversial and doing that version of the Britney song. But I never judge a person until I meet them.

So was there instant chemistry between you when you met on the set of the video for his first single, Colourblind?

The first time I set eyes on him, we were in an airport and he was walking through with kids just hanging off him. He was talking to them and kneeling down and signing autographs, making them all feel happy. It hit me what kind of guy he is. And when he met me, he shook my hand and asked questions like he was genuinely interested. He has a way of making you feel like the only person in the room. I was really impressed.

We had such fun filming the video that we stayed in touch. But at that time we weren't thinking of each other in that way. There was just always something to discuss, so he called me when the video came out and I called him when the single came out. From there, it kind of progressed.

How did he woo you?

I was flying off to Barcelona really early one morning and he came to the airport to try and see me. But he couldn't get through the waiting room so he gave a package to a security guard to give to me. When I opened it, there was a CD player, and a CD of a song he'd written for me with a little bottle of champagne, two glasses and a note saying, 'I wish I could share it with you.' I was choked.

The security guard gave me his walky-talky to talk to him and he said he just wanted to wish me good luck on my shoot. I was totally swept off my feet.

What was your first date like?

I was going to the open air theatre in Regent's Park with my parents and we had a spare ticket and he happened to call me on that day. So I said, 'Why don't you come round?'

He arrived with a huge bouquet of flowers and came running towards me but then he ran straight past me and gave them to my mum! He did give me a single red rose though. It was a lovely evening.

How do you deal with the press attention?

The only time I got upset was when we were on holiday in Mauritius over New Year. On the day we arrived, I went straight to the beach, where I sunbathed topless. The next day the photos were all over the papers.

We had our phones off for a week and when we switched them back on there were 30 text messages saying, 'Topless! Sunday papers!' I was so mad [with anger] for a whole day.

When I finally saw the pictures, I said, 'Look how grumpy we look! It looks like we're having a huge argument.' But I don't get snapped in the street when I'm on my own - only when we're together.

Do you ever feel jealous about all the female attention Darius receives?

I take it as a compliment. When we were first together, before anyone knew who I was, I would go to his concerts and sneak down to where all the girls were throwing their knickers at him and screaming. I loved the fact that 3,000 girls were yelling my boyfriend's name. It's fantastic.