The 23-year-old Scot headed for London in the hope of getting a record deal - but no one was willing to sign him.

Glasgow-born Danesh was ridiculed in the media for his rendition of the Britney Spears song 'Hit Me Baby One More Time' and became a nationwide figure of fun after being kicked off the show.

But he went on to achieve success in ITV's follow-up show Pop Idol and has become a chart-topping star.

But in an interview with The Scotsman magazine he admitted he was in the depths of despair after his Popstars failure.

He said he was booed offstage and jeered at by his fellow students when he returned to university.

And Danesh hit rock bottom when he travelled to London in search of fame and fortune.

He said: "I drowned my sorrows in drink. I was running away - or trying to. There was a period when I was scarcely sober.

"Even with the support I had from my family and good friends looking out for me, I was heading down the slippery slope to self-destruction.

"And I wouldn't tell anyone how bad I felt. I was ashamed of myself and what I was doing."

Danesh has written a book on his reality TV experience, Sink or Swim.

The pop star, who is currently single, says he dated a student for a short time over Christmas but she proved too full-on.

And he says the move made him very itchy - particularly around the time of his appearance at the Just Married film premiere in March.

Darius, who dated model Jackie Ainsley for a short time, says he's enjoying his single status too much to be in a serious relationship.

During a recent gig he plucked a girl out of the crowd and kissed her on the stage, before asking her out.

And he also admits to having a three-way snog with two female fans at a London party.

He told Heat magazine: "I'm just enjoying myself that's all. I haven't been drinking like this since university.

"Through Pop Idol and the recording of my album, I didn't drink. I was really focused on getting my record done. But now I feel I can cut loose a bit more."

They will be joined by the likes of Girls Aloud, Mis-teeq, Busted and Blazin' Squad at eleven cities around the UK.

It kicks-off at the Blackpool Opera House on May 21, before heading to cities including Nottingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Glasgow, Newcastle and London.

The tour promises a unique chance to get close to the stars by participating in the interactive events live at the venue.

The Popstars reject, who had a number one hit with the self-penned Colourblind, will focus on the past two years of his life.

The book is expected to concentrate on his relationships, family and the pressures of life on the road, when it hits shelves in September.

In a dream opportunity for dozens of fans, Darius was put in a ring with Heidi, Muya and Keisha and dozens of custard pies.

But the singer wasn't a gentleman - and made sure he beat the girls rather than allowing himself to be covered in custard by the trio.

The custard pie match, part of Comic Relief, can be seen tomorrow on The Saturday Show. Each of the contestants had to sit on a Space Hopper disguised as a red nose and bounce around a boxing ring filled with pies. Whoever stayed on the longest was the winner.

Dressed in a red jumpsuit, Darius fought each of the Sugababes separately and won before squaring up to Richard Blackwood.

An insider said: "It then got very messy and both went flying. Darius ended up covered in custard from head to foot."

Comic Relief night is on Friday, March 14

The former Pop Idol contestant will now play Manchester's Apollo Theatre on May 16 as well as May 17.

Darius has also added a concert at Belfast's Waterfront Hall on April 30, following the release of his new single Incredible in March.

The tour already includes concerts at Glasgow's Clyde Auditorium and London's Hammersmith Apollo as well as Cardiff, Sheffield, Bradford, Newcastle and Birmingham.

Teenage garage outfit the Blazing Squad were also supposed to be performing at the non-existent event in Feltham, west London, dubbed the Romantic Rendez Vous Secrets Night.

Scotland Yard warned youngsters not to buy the £12 tickets for the event supposed to be taking place on February 15 at the North Feltham Trading Estate, according to flyers being distributed in south London.

The owner of the proposed venue contacted police after discovering leaflets advertising the event starring the two pop acts.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The owner had not given permission for the concert to take place and during police investigation it became apparent that neither the band nor artist would be making an appearance."

Detectives investigating the con have asked those who have already bought tickets, or anyone with any information about those involved, to contact their local police station or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

The Pop Idol star reportedly proposed to the Sugar Jones singer during a New Year break in Glasgow.

But it is thought that Mirella, whose band won the Canadian version of Popstars, kept him waiting for three days before she said yes.

They are hoping to set a date for the wedding in the coming weeks, after searching for a home in London.

The pair have been dating since meeting at Party In The Park in Oxford last summer.

Darius will play a number of dates around the UK next May.

His tour will begin in Glasgow on May 2 and will end at London's Hammersmith Apollo on May 25.

The full list of dates are:

May 2nd Glasgow Armadillo;
May 4th Edinburgh Playhouse;
May 6th Newcastle City Hall;
May 7th Nottingham, Royal Centre;
May 9th Brighton Centre;
May 10th Cardiff Int. Arena;
May 11th Bournemouth Int. Centre;
May 13th Bristol Colston Hall;
May 14th Cambridge, Corn Exchange;
May 17th Manchester Apollo;
May 18th Sheffield City Hall;
May 20th Bradford, St. George's Hall;
May 21st Leicester, De Montfort Hall;
May 23rd Birmingham, NIA Academy;
May 25th Hammersmith Apollo;

A shortlist of ten songs has been drawn up for the award, presented by Ant and Dec on ITV this Saturday.

The ten finalists also include Darius, Enrique Iglesias, Shakira, Liberty X, Elvis V Junkie XL, Atomic Kitten and Ronan Keating.

Viewers will be able to cast their votes on the night.

Last year's winners were S Club 7 with their hit Don't Stop Movin'.

Darius says he's been offered drugs a number of times since becoming a pop star.

But he says he has no intention on taking the dealers up on their offers.

"I've been offered drugs loads of times, but I've always turned them down," he tells Now magazine. "Things like that just turn my stomach."

"I owe it to myself and, more importantly, to my parents who've supported me throughout my whole life.

"The public gave me the opportunity to show them what I'm capable of, so why abuse my body?" he says.

He is refusing to stay in a hotel and prefers to stay at his friend Venetia Hibbert's flat.

She says he is the perfect house guest.

He will release Rushes on November 18.

Darius has just returned to the UK from Los Angeles where he was filming the video.

Darius will perform his debut single Colourblind and will also present the award for the best Irish pop group.

The ceremony is hosted by music magazine Big Buzz.

It takes place on October 4 at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.

The band entered the charts in top spot to end the Popstars and Pop Idol contestant's two-week stint at number one with his debut single, Colourblind.

There was further Popstars disappointment for original winners Hear'Say, who made their lowest ever chart entry at number six with Lovin' Is Easy.

He says he's really impressed with what the Pop Idol finalist has achieved.

Darius's debut album, which is as yet untitled, is due to be released on November 18.

He claims the tracks Evergreen and Anything Is Possible were chosen to suit Gareth's voice.

Darius says Will even asked for them to be rearranged to give him a better chance.

Madhouse entered at number three with Like A Prayer while Gareth Gates slipped from number two to number four with his former number one Anyone of Us (Stupid Mistake).

It's expected to be the Pop Idol singer's live singing debut in Ireland.

The festival's line up already includes Ronan Keating, Samantha Mumba, A1, Lulu, Bellefire, the Four Of Us and Picturehouse.

More than 30 acts have so far been confirmed and organisers are expecting the concert to attract up to 100,000 fans.

Colourblind is outselling Coldplay's new single In My Place, according to mid-week sales figures.

Mad House are in line to enter the charts at number three with their remix of Madonna's Like A Prayer.

Gareth Gates' track, Anyone Of Us, has moved down to fourth place, followed by Will Smith's Black Suits Comin' in fifth.

The concert is part of a weekend marking the climax of the Smash Hits Poll Winners' Tour.

It takes place at Minehead in November.

Tickets for the Smash Hits Poll Winners' Tour will go on sale at the weekend.

Last year's tour featured Liberty X, Blue, Atomic Kitten, Geri Halliwell, Hear'Say, Westlife and Samantha Mumba.

The full dates are:
October 26 - Sheffield Arena
October 27 - Manchester Evening News Arena
October 28 - Glasgow Auditorium
October 30 - Nottingham Arena
October 31 - Newcastle Telewest Arena
November 1 - Belfast Odyssey
November 3 - Dublin Point
November 5 - Birmingham NEC
November 9 - Butlin's Minehead.

He knocked Gareth Gates off the top spot with his self-penned track Colourblind in the first week of its release.

Darius says it is a moment he will treasure for the rest of his life.

"I am over the moon that people like something that I've written," he said. "Colourblind is the best way that I can thank the public for their support through Pop Idol, not by churning a cover song out off the back of the incredible success of the programme, but by going in on my own."

Rather than seizing the opportunity to have the last laugh at his critics, Darius said: "I would actually like to thank them because it was through the criticism that I took on board, the lessons that I learned, that have allowed me to get where I am today."

The singer says he just laughs off his humiliating Britney Spears rendition, adding: "We all make mistakes and I made mine on national television!"

It makes Darius the third Pop Idol star to land a number one after Gates and contest winner Will Young.

Elsewhere in this week's chart, Will Smith entered at number three with Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head), P Diddy featuring Usher & Loon entered the chart at number four with I Need A Girl (Part One), and S Club Juniors fell three places to number five with Automatic High.

Other new entries included Britney Spears featuring P Williams with Boys at seven, while George Michael's controversial Shoot The Dog single failed to make the top 10, entering at number 12.

In the album charts, Bruce Springsteen claimed the number one slot with The Rising, pushing the Red Hot Chili Peppers' By The Way down to number two.

The Pop Idol finalist says doing it in dangerous places turns him on.

He says he has had sex in the grounds of Edinburgh Castle, on an open-top bus and in a speedboat.

Darius says his experience in Edinburgh Castle was with a former girlfriend while it was crowded.

Earlier this year online bookies Blue Square offered odds of 20/1 that the Pop Idol finalist would have a number one hit by the end of 2002.

He is tipped to top the singles chart this week, meaning Blue Square will have to pay out an estimated £50,000 to punters.

A spokesman said: "Normally on a fun bet like this we wouldn't mind losing a bit of money but traditionally you take quite a few bets but all very low stakes so to be paying out well into five figures is not ideal.

Darius has also been slashed to 16/1 from 33/1 for Christmas No 1, following the success of his debut single Colourblind.

But he says he's been too busy to get lonely since the TV talent show.

Darius is likely to reach number one on Sunday with his debut single Colour Blind.

He told Now Magazine: "If I was going out with a girl, she'd have to be completely down-to-earth, a bit crazy, but the girl next door.

"She wouldn't be a singer or a presenter because I've experienced this industry for the last two years and it doesn't turn me on. It's the real stuff that does it for me.

"I've only had one snog since Pop Idol. If I had a day off and stopped to think about it, I'm sure I'd be lonely, but I don't even get weekends off."

His debut single Colourblind has sold more than 20,000, according to midweek sales figures.

But George Michael's Shoot The Dog has so far sold only 3,000 copies.

The Glaswegian was greeted with screams of delight from the crowd at the HMV store in Oxford Street, London.

The 21-year-old was signing copies of his self-penned single Colourblind.

Darius, who landed a deal with Mercury Records after the Pop Idol television series finished earlier this year, is widely tipped to knock fellow contestant Gareth Gates off the top of the single's chart this week.

Before the signing session, Darius said: "I'm over the moon that I've finally been given the opportunity to release a single which I'm really proud of, which is, I suppose, my thank you to everyone that supported me through Pop Idol.

"If my single gets to the top ten, I'll be over the moon. If it gets to the top five, I'll be screaming down the phone to my parents."

It takes place in Stirling Road, Falkirk on Sunday August 11, with the show going out live on Radio 1 from 2pm to 4pm.

Also playing at the gig are Hundred Reasons and Pop Idol runner-up Darius.

Presenters on the day will be Radio 1 DJs Jamie Theakston, Nemone and Steve Lamacq.

They will sing alongside Pop Idol finalists Gareth Gates and Darius Danesh, at Free At The Dee.

The open air gig at Duthie Park has been organised by radio station Northsound to celebrate their 21st birthday.

The show in Hyde Park will be hosted by Matt Brown and Lauren Laverne.

The concert will be broadcast live on Channel 5 from 12.05pm to 7pm on July 7.

The line-up includes Westlife, Blue, Enrique Iglesias, Sophie Ellis Bextor, Shakira, Shaggy, Will Young and Gareth Gates.

Mel B said: "I am so excited about doing this event. The line-up is fantastic and I'm looking forward to getting back to presenting. It will be a new role for me, reporting from backstage instead of being on stage."

Darius added: "I feel honoured to be invited to present and perform alongside some of the world's greatest artists and I'm looking forward to performing my debut single."

The proceeds from the event will go to The Prince's Trust, which help thousands of disadvantaged young people.

Lauren Laverne and Matt Brown are also to present a new music show called Pop on Channel 5 starting in August.

He will join headliners Blue, Aurora, Abs from Five and Westlife at Temple Newsam Estate on Sunday July 14.

Fellow Pop Idol runner-up Zoe Birkett will also be performing in front of the 70,000-strong crowd.

A limited number of tickets for the festival are available from Leeds Town Hall.

The former Pop Idol contestant co-wrote the song, called Colourblind.

It will be backed by a remix from Hi-NRG producers Almighty Associates.

The singer was signed to the label by Mercury's managing director and former U2 producer Steve Lillywhite.

Lillywhite says he is privileged to be involved with "such an exciting young talent as Darius."

Darius told Worldpop.com: "I'm thrilled to have signed with Mercury and glad to have taken the time to find the freshest major label to work with.

"Having Steve Lillywhite at the helm of the album is a dream come true and I am very excited about pursuing the future with the whole team."

Darius's debut single is due for release in the summer.

Songs include Will Young and Gareth Gates' number one singles and Darius Danesh singing It's Not Unusual.

It will be screened on ITV1 on Saturday at 5.40pm.

The show took place at London Arena on April 6 in aid of the Prince's Trust.

It finishes with all 10 finalists singing Frank Sinatra's My Way.

Ant and Dec will present the 90-minute show.

The songs to be shown on the ITV broadcast include:

The contract is with Mercury Records rather than Simon Cowell's label BMG.

It had been thought he would follow Will Young and Gareth Gates in signing up with Cowell.

A spokesman for Darius's management team told The Sun: "Darius was flattered by all the offers and is hoping to make an announcement next week."

Darius, who came third in Pop Idol, is being offered a three-album deal.

When he was a contestant on Popstars, Darius claimed he would have a number one single and a platinum album by the time he was 35.

The Pop Idol contestant teamed up with Miss Scotland Juliet Horne to support the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service's Easter Campaign.

Darius says his mother and father were also blood donors.

The 21-year-old from Glasgow said: "We run around in our everyday lives and we don't really think about the significance of giving blood.

"In hospitals all across the country, 300 operations a day would not be able to take place without blood donations.

"It is rare that I am back in my home town and this is one of the causes that I am very happy to support as I think it is very worthwhile."

The blood transfusion service in Scotland needs 50,000 new donors this year to meet hospital demands of 1,000 donations every day to treat patients. Research has shown new donors between the ages of 17 and 25 were more likely to become regular, committed blood donors in the future.

Darius plays a second Pop Idols tour date in his hometown tonight - and again plans to don a kilt for the show.

Speaking about last night's performance, he said: "It was just incredible being home - I just didn't know what to say.

"I feel very privileged and proud to be able to perform in front of my home town."

The third-placed contestant will answer fans' questions at the official Pop Idol website from 10.30pm.

Darius says he is looking forward to speaking to fans who supported him throughout the series.

He says he won't choose between Gareth and Will but he thinks the pair are neck and neck to win the final on Saturday.

He told GMTV both finalists have qualities he admires.

"They're doubly as good as me because there's two of them," Darius said.

The pop hopeful revealed his disillusionment with the competition when he was caught on camera before a television interview.

Darius, from Glasgow, was recorded making the comments while talking to his publicist before the beginning of an interview for Scottish Television.

Discussing the move to stage a mock election-style campaign for the remaining two contestants, Darius said: "This is out of anybody's control and the problem is the men in black that really run the show.

"You know what? I wish I was 17, I wish I was naive and I couldn't see any of this. I know, I know. I feel so sorry for whoever wins this, it's a poisoned chalice, it is I believe that."

But later he said: "When I said what I said, I had a long, long day and it was the end of the day."

The Pop Idol reject, who said he had been emotionally and physically fatigued, added: "A lot of it you could take out of context ... but for me looking back on it, it's probably more entertaining to watch that than watch the Pop Idol show on Saturday."

Speaking on Scottish Television's Scotland Today programme, he wished both Pop Idol finalists well.

And he added: "The next time that I know that I'm going to be stitched up, I'll definitely give you guys something to smile about."

The 21-year old, who was booted off the hit ITV1 show on Saturday, said the only woman in his life was his mum.

He told The Sun newspaper that although he is single at the moment he hopes the situation will change.

The former Edinburgh University student dismissed reports that he had been out with a string of beauties.

He said: "I have heard lots of things about how I am dating lots of gorgeous girls. I wish they were true, but they are not."

Darius, who also flopped in previous talent show Popstars, says he is relieved to have been eliminated before the Pop Idol final.

He added that he had no desire to join old rivals Hear'Say, who are auditioning for a new member following the departure of Kym Marsh.

He added: "Having gone through both Popstars and Pop Idol I have decided that it is as a solo artist that I want to make it."

The band is holding auditions to find a replacement for Kym Marsh.

Darius says it would be funny to turn up but there is no way he is going to audition.

"I wish them luck because I think they're great but I'm more suited to being a solo performer than a group member.

"You will never, ever see me audition on TV again."

The Edinburgh University student was booted off the Pop Idol competition but insisted he was still "the luckiest boy in Britain".

He put on a brave face and insisted he was not upset at missing out on the Pop Idol title.

"I'm not only the luckiest boy in Britain, but the happiest. Everything that has happened to me has been incredible.

"I didn't see getting voted off Popstars as being rejection, and I don't see this year on Pop Idol as being rejection. I see it as being a great personal success," he said.

He will be meeting Pop Idol judges Nicki Chapman and Simon Cowell next week to discuss what the future holds.

He sang Toploader's "Dancin' in the Moonlight" and The Walker Brothers' "Make it Easy on Yourself", both songs chosen by the judges.

Hosts Ant and Dec revealed the two finalists, William Young and Gareth Gates, had polled 39.8% and 39.3 % of the 5.8 million votes but did not say which had which.

Both will go on an election-style campaign trail round London before next weeks show.

They supported S Club 7 at the band's Dublin concert earlier this week.

The three contestants agreed the concert was the highlight of their career so far.

In the penultimate show, judges Neil Fox, Nicki Chapman, Simon Cowell and Pete Waterman, pick two songs for each contestant to sing.

It will then be down to the public to decide which two singers go forward to next week's final programme.

Gareth, from Bradford, is the bookies' choice to win the Pop Idol title, but Darius has made an impressive final push to be installed as second favourite.

In a phone poll for GMTV, 46% named Gareth as their Pop Idol, with 27% voting for Darius and 25% choosing Will.

Darius is also being supported by an internet campaign pleading with viewers to vote for him.

An email says: "Gareth and Will are going to be pop stars. Whether you like it or not that's a simple, undeniable fact.

"Voting for either of them will simply reaffirm what is already an absolute, carved in stone, unavoidable reality. But the fate of Darius still hangs in the balance."

Following tonight's programme the two remaining contestants embark on a week of election-style campaigning to convince the nation of their talents.

The eventual winner of the programme will be awarded a contract with the record company BMG and management outfit 19.

He is now second favourite behind Gareth Gates, according to online bookmakers Blue Square.

Their latest odds make Gareth 2/7 favourite to win the TV talent contest, with Darius at 10/3.

William Young is now the outsider at 7/1.

The debut release by the winner will be a double A-side featuring two ballads.

Darius says he had a row with the show's producers at the beginning of the week over his choice of song for tonight's show.

He wanted to sing Atomic Kitten's Whole Again but the producers wanted him to sing Lionel Ritchie's Hello.

Zoe Birkett, Gareth Gates, William Young and Darius Danesh are the last contestants left from 10,000 original hopefuls in the TV talent search.

This week's episode differs slightly from previous weeks with each contestant being required to sing two songs each, with the theme being former number ones.

The judges, Pete Waterman, Nicki Chapman and Simon Cowell, will then rate their performances before the final decision is left down to the public in a phone vote.

A spokesman for the show said: "It looks set to be one of the most tense and gripping shows we have yet had as the pressure mounts on the remaining contestants." According to bookies, Darius, the contestant who found fame when he auditioned for Pop Stars, is the favourite to get the boot.

The favourite to win the show overall remains Gareth with William close behind.

The pair have been firm friends since meeting on the Big Breakfast set last year.

Marsden, who played mechanic Chris, had a brief stab at pop stardom with two singles and an album in 1998.

They met up at the premiere of Black Hawk Down, in which Marsden has a starring role.

Darius said: "Matthew gave me lots of advice that night. He's been in the music business and knows all about it. He told me you need a thick skin and you have to turn the negative into the positive.

"We met when I did Big Breakfast last year and he came along to the show last week to give me some support."

The pair were told their behaviour will not be tolerated after they sparred during a live heat of the show on Saturday night.

TV boss Nigel Lythgoe, Nasty Nigel of Popstars, gave them a roasting for their outbursts.

Cowell has earned himself a reputation for cruel comments to contestants and laid into Darius Danesh on Saturday.

He said his version of Let's Face The Music and Dance was the worst performance of the evening.

Waterman hit back: "You must have something in your ears, mate, because that was as close as I've ever heard to Nat King Cole in my life."

He later accused his fellow judge of being ageist because Darius Danesh was one of the older competitors.

Cowell hit back: "If you think what I said was about his age, you are talking b******s. If you don't think I'm allowed an opinion, we won't even bother turning up."

Lythgoe said: "Their argument in last Saturday's show went too far and is unacceptable on any future shows. I reminded them that the talent was appearing in front of them and they should not hijack the show with their own petty quarrels

"Frankly, I'm disappointed that Simon couldn't take Pete's criticism having dished out so much himself. It looks like he can give it but not take it. The pair of them acted like a slightly senile bickering old couple who had never had enough courage to get divorced 20 years ago."

All the Pop Idol contestants will sing Big Band songs this week.

Darius decided he wanted to have a quiff for the show and so visited the Taylor Ferguson salon in Glasgow to get the look.

The accusation from the press came after Saturday's ITV2 show.

Darius asked presenter Kate Thornton to stop filming the contestants' tearful reaction to Laura Doherty's rejection from the show.

He said: "I actually laughed when I read that. I've had a lot of stuff written about me since Popstars so I've learnt to grow a thick skin and not let it get to me.

"Of course we were upset on Saturday when we found out Laura was leaving. We've all grown very close so it's always sad when someone has to go.

"But there's a big difference between being a bit upset and cracking up. I can assure you that none of us is about to be dragged off to the Priory just yet."

The Pop Idol contestant's odds of having a number one in 2002 have been slashed from 50/1 to 14/1.

The odds were cut after Blue Square took a number of bets on the former Pop Stars flop proving to be a solo success.

The company will have to pay out £10,000 if Darius hits the top of the charts before the end of the year.

He owes his place on the show to the fact Rik Waller had to withdraw over a similar infection.

But the Glasgow singer insists he's not going to let it spoil his chances in the competition.

He replaced Rik Waller who had to retire with a throat infection.

Darius impressed the judges with his version of When A Child Is Born.

The Scottish student says he is delighted at being given another chance, but says he is disappointed for his unwell fellow contestant.

Cowell says he respects Darius for putting himself through a TV talent competition for a second time.

But he says he would have signed him by now if he was good enough.

Darius may be reinstated in the Pop Idol competition this Saturday if Rik Waller's throat infection doesn't clear up in time.

He is preparing to replace finalist Rik Waller, who looks likely to drop out with a sore throat.

Rik will see a throat specialist later today to decide if he is fit enough for the second heat of the finals.

A spokeswoman for Pop Idol said although Darius had been rehearsing, it was still hoped Rik might be well enough for Saturday's show.

She told Ananova: "We've had to have Darius in the studio to practice because it wouldn't be fair to give him only a couple of days practice if Rik isn't better.

"But as far as production goes we're hoping that Rik will be well enough to perform on Saturday. He's got an appointment with the voice specialist later and we want to give him every chance."

The second heat of the Pop Idol final will see the remaining nine contestants performing individual Christmas songs.

The identity of the songs is being kept secret.

He will be replaced by Darius Danesh.

Darius has been drafted in because he came third in Rik's heat.

A Pop Idol spokeswoman told Ananova that Rik is very disappointed at losing out on the chance of becoming a pop star.

He had hinted that he may be forced to pull out of the competition because of a sore throat at a press conference earlier this week.

The spokeswoman said: "Rik has seen a throat specialist and he has no other option but to pull out. His part in the competition is over."

The first of Pop Idol's ten final heats is on ITV1 tomorrow at 6.05pm.

One hopeful will be voted off the show every week, until the public are left with just two finalists to choose from.

He lost out in a place in the Pop Idol final on the Saturday night show, coming third place in the public vote.

But the former Popstars hopeful says he won't stop trying.

The Pop Idol hopeful has ditched his goatee beard and ponytail.

He says they made him look like "a Greek tour operator or an Italian waiter".

"In many ways when I got rid of them I was not only saying goodbye to an odd image but also getting rid of insecurity," said Darius, who was a loser on Pop Idol's sister show Popstars.

"I was hiding behind this super-confident front and facade and I was naive enough to do it on national TV."

He is performing Something Inside So Strong in the last of the Pop Idol heats on ITV1 on Saturday.

Darius says he regrets his claim on national TV that he would go triple platinum by the age of 35, adding that he was "naive and flippant".

He said: "I just want to be happy and sing and have this love of music inside me which makes me feel happy and alive and affects people around me.

"I haven't rediscovered myself, I just feel comfortable with who I am at last."

Darius and Rik Waller are favourites to make it through to the final.

This week's other eight contestants are: Aaron Bayley, 26, from Newcastle; Sarah Whatmore, 20, from Manchester; Hayley Bamford, 20, from York; Joanne Slattery, 24, from Southport; Jade Cannell, 19, from Portsmouth; Vanessa Cavanagh, 18, from Middlesex; Rachel Makins, 21, from Melton Mowbray; and Davina Perera, 24, from Orpington.

But Darius Danesh's odds are slipping, with punters increasingly backing Aaron Bayley and Sarah Whatmore to get through.

Online bookmakers Blue Square made Darius 1/3 earlier this week, but he has now slipped out to evens, with Rik at 1/4.

Aaron's odds are now down to 2/1 with Blue Square, with Sarah close behind at 5/2.

Vanessa Cavanagh is the outsider at 20/1.

His management team have told him not to wear his usual T-shirt and jeans for Saturdays heat of the show.

They want him to go for a smarter look as he bids to get through to the last ten contestants.

Her favourite is Gareth Gates who has worked hard to overcome a stutter.

Darius has won through to the last 50.

He auditions for ITV1's search for a solo star in tonight's show.

Darius was dumped for being a show-off.

In Pop Idol, he performs his version of Seal's hit Future Love Paradise to the panel.

Judges were stunned when Darius walked into the audition.

Record executive Simon Cowell joked: "You're the first contestant who I don't need to ask your name."

Darius's was booted out of Popstars after performing Britney Spears's song Baby One More Time.

The panel included Nicki Chapman. who is also a judge for Pop Idol.

The Pop Idol hopeful says the change of image is nothing to do with his participation in the show.

Last week the Pop Idol judges said they are looking for a star with a clean-cut image.