Darius World

After Storming the British Charts in 2002 - Darius Danesh - From His Luxury London Pad, The "Pop Idol" Star Talks Will, Gareth and Second Chances

OK! Magazine 8 January 2003

Its no wonder Darius Danesh is smiling - the Pop Idol singer had a fantastic year last year after transforming himself from a national laughing stock into something of a heart-throb and getting his very first number one record. However, he knows hard work and determination can only get you so far. "The public support has completely turned my life around," he told OK! in this exclusive interview. "I'm eternally grateful for that."

What an amazing year 2002 was for Pop Idol star Darius Danesh. After coming third in the hit show, which also made stars of Gareth Gates and Will Young, the tall, dark and handsome 22-year-old Scot signed a record deal and hit the number one spot with his first single, Colourblind. From his tasteful home in London, Darius spoke exclusively to OK! about the year when all his dreams came true...

Darius you must look back on the past 12 months with a huge grin on your face!

I do! The public support has completely turned my life around. Hard work and determination can only get you so far and, at the end of the day, it's people accepting that I had a second chance that's allowed me to be how I am. To be writing my own material, to be creative and controlling my business has made me one very lucky guy, and I'm eternally grateful for that.

What is the one memory that just fills you with immense satisfaction?

I have so many I'd be cheating someone if I had to choose just one, but if I really had to, it'd be the day that Colourblind hit number one. It's a time I'll treasure forever. It was like all my dreams hhad come true.

Growing up, you always want to make your parents proud of you and, for me, I grew up loads in the public eye over just two years. I made my mistakes in front of a lot of people, but I felt I wanted to do things right. I was extremely lucky in being able to get a second stab at making a first impression, so finally I got to do exactly what I've wanted to do all my life. I realised this industry can be such a commercial image-led machine, and it's so tough at times, so to be exactly where I've wanted to be - having people buy my records and appreciate my hard work - is just mind-blowing.

Everyone from Lorraine Kelly to Liam Gallagher seemed to love the fact that you got a bit of an upper hand over Will and Gareth. Is this tricky for you constantly being put up against your former showmates?

It's not at all. Will and Gareth are doing completely different things to me. I don't even consider there being any kind of competition between us. Gareth''s a teen idol, Will's the pop idol, and me? I just don't want to be idolised as such in any form, really. I don't want to be placed on a pedestal. I just want to be respected for my music.

Your astounding transformation from a national laughing in to one of the most lusted-after and respected young artistes of the year is too amazing for words. Do you look back at old images of yourself with fondness or horror?

I look back and laugh, but not with horror! It was people slating me that made me grow up so fast and, when you're thrown in the deep end like I was, you only have two options - to either sink or swim. I had to face facts really quickly because within three weeks my family weere being chased by the press and I was headlining four national newspapers, and what I saw was someone I really didn't like. I even considered giving up singing completely at one point - I hit a wall and I had achoice of either climbing over it or crashing head first into the rubble. So I jumped over and made the best decision of my life.