Darius: The singer who turned down Simon Cowell and is still number 1

Image source, Getty Images

Camera Darius pbell Danesh was the singer who ranked third on Pop Idol, behind Will Young and Gareth Gates, and sought to have the musical world at his feet. were stunned when he turned down a lucrative record deal from the show's creator, Simon Cowell.

But rather than disappear without a trace , the Scot went on to have five top 10 singles.

He topped it all off with his #1 hit Colourblind, produced by award-winning Steve Lillywhite. a Grammy Award in 2002.

And he forged a hugely successful second career as a West End actor and performer.

This led to him dividing his time between Scotland and the United States, where he was found dead in his Minnesota apartment on August 11.

So , who was Darius?

Darius Danesh was born to a Scottish tish mother and Iranian father in Glasgow on August 19, 1980.

He has grew up in Bearsden, East Dunbartonshire, with two younger brothers.

After completing his studies at Bearsden Primary and Glasgow Academy, he studied English Literature and Philosophy at the University of Edinburgh before starting his career pop.