Darius World

Darius Campbell: I've changed my name from Danesh because I feel so Scottish

John Dingwall Exclusive Daily Record 15 January 2010

POPSTAR To Operastar contestant Darius Campbell will sing Nessun Dorma tonight as a tribute to his 78-year-old grandad who inspired his name change.

The Glasgow singer became a household name as Darius Danesh through stints on reality shows Popstars and Pop Idol.

But he recently ditched the family surname he inherited from his Iranian doctor dad, Booth.

Darius, 29, chose to become a Campbell - his mum Avril's maiden name - after an emotional visit to grandad Colin Campbell in a Paisley nursing home.

He revealed: "My real name is Darius Campbell-Danesh. On my credit card and passport, it has been Darius Campbell for the last two years.

"In the last five years, I have watched my dad go from a life or death scenario back to full health.

"I've taken on the responsibility of being effectively a stepfather to two young children. And I've reached a stage in my life where I ask, 'Who am I?'

"Before Christmas, I visited my grandad. He is originally from Greenock and he sang The Green Oak Tree to me. He sang it in such a way it brought tears to my eyes. He was in tears at the end of it, as well.

"He said to me, 'I am proud of you. No matter where you are in the world, you'll always be a Campbell. You'll always be a Scot and you'll always be my grandson'.

"At that point, I thought, 'I feel like Darius Campbell'. That's the name on my passport. It's the name on my credit card. Back in the day when I was introduced as Darius Danesh, I didn't ever have the choice. Someone at the studio in England dropped the Campbell without asking me.

"I am Scottish. I am proud of my heritage and I don't want to lose that.

"We live in a world that is becoming very Americanised. Everything is a bit of a jumble and knowing where you are from is very important.

"When I travel the world, I feel so deeply Scottish. When people know me as Darius Danesh, it doesn't reflect that I am Scottish. People say it's not a very Scottish name. But Darius Campbell reflects that I am Scottish."

Darius also dismissed the notion of a family feud over the name change after dad, Booth, reportedly fumed: "He should just keep it Danesh because everyone knows him as that."

The singer said: "I don't know where that quote came from. I spoke to my dad and he told me he didn't say that.

"My father is one of the most supportive people.

"He considered changing his name to Campbell when he first moved to Scotland 30 years ago because he felt like an adopted Scot.

"He is happy with the name change. I'm still Darius to him."

Tonight Darius becomes one of several singers taking part in ITV reality series Popstar To Operastar.

For 10 days, he has been put through his paces by Welsh opera diva Katherine Jenkins and Mexican tenor Rolando Villazon.

Darius is competing alongside Blur's Alex James, Bernie Nolan, McFly's Danny Jones, not-so-little Jimmy Osmond, Coronation Street's Kym Marsh, Marcella Detroit of Shakespeare's Sister and The Saturdays' Vanessa White.

In each show, they will have to impress Katherine and a panel of judges with their arias, the operatic term for a solo piece.

At the end of each week, the weakest performer on the show, which is hosted by Myleene Klass and Alan Titchmarsh, will be sent home.

Surveying a studio that features winding staircases that end in mid-air, Darius confessed he hopes to win the series and fulfil his dream of being an opera star. "The set is like a cross between Moulin Rouge and a David LaChapelle pop video. It is surreal and larger than life," he said.

"My first professional stage experience was in a Scottish Opera production when I was 12. I fell in love with the stage and with performance.

"Then I got a role in Carmen and had two performances in London at the Covent Garden Theatre. That was my first West End experience."

Darius says he has been working extremely hard since Christmas to make his opera dream come true.

"I've thrown myself into this," he admitted. "It's unlike anything I've done before.

"I've had to unlearn what I learned for my pop career and as a musical singer. The techniques for opera are completely different.

"Katherine and Rolando have been explaining to me what not to do. I'm singing in a different language and have had 10 days of rehearsal to do what opera singers learn in 10 years.

"I see this as revisiting an old ghost.

"When I was 14, I made the decision to study and go to university and then follow a career in pop.

"That was 15 years ago, so to get the chance to revisit something and retrain is magic. It is golden in a sense.

"I wouldn't be doing this if I didn't in my heart hope to win it. For 15 years, I have wondered how different my life would be if I trained with Scottish Opera to be an opera singer. It has been a love of my parents for many years.

"They listen to Classic FM and their favourite singers are Placido Domingo and Andrea Bocelli. If I could win this, it would make my dad's year."

Darius first burst on to TV screens as the goatee-bearded, super-confident pop wannabe in 2002's Pop Idol.

These days, he splits his time between London and the Los Angeles home he shares with Canadian actress Natasha Henstridge and her two kids.

"But I spent Christmas and New Year in Scotland," he said. "Even though we had the harshest winter in years, there was nothing like being home.

"It made me appreciate it all the more because I have worked elsewhere. Scotland will always be my home.

"My dad had a successful operation before Christmas so we celebrated. It was important to be with my family.

"When Natasha's kids heard about Popstar To Operstar, they were really excited. I hope British TV accepts this type of show. It is completely new."