Snow White has to be woken up by a real Scotsman – you won’t see me in a pair of tights!

Scots entertainer Darius has revealed he still phones X Factor boss Simon Cowell for advice.

The 30-year-old, who came third on the talent show’s predecessor Pop Idol nine years ago, said: “I speak to him every now and again for a catch up.

“He’s been really supportive of my career and when I have a big decision to make I’ll often give him a call and ask for his advice.” Darius, who is from Bearsden but now splits his time between London and LA, said he’s is “heartbroken” about 18-year-old Clackmannanshire contestant Gamu Nhengu’s departure from this year’s show. And he says Simon is doing his best to help with visa issues which could her family sent back to Zimbabwe. “I’m still heartbroken about Gamu,” Darius said. “I was really upset for her. I thought she had a beautiful voice. All fairness to Simon, he’s a bit of a hero in that respect. He’s trying to help her. He’s spent a lot of personal time on this and has put a lot of money into lawyers.” Darius also became pals with X Factor judge Cheryl Cole after showing her and the rest of Girls Aloud around Glasgow’s pubs and clubs a few years ago. He said: “Girls Aloud and I had a gig at the SECC and I took them on a night out -- we did a real tour of the town and they really enjoyed it. Cheryl said she loved Glasgow as a city.” While he might have gone from Popstar to Opera Star after winning the ITV1 show Darius is turning his talents to panto. Now going by his grandfather’s surname of Campbell rather than Danesh as he says he feels better reflects his Scottish roots, he will play the prince in Snow White at the King’s Theatre this Christmas. Darius revealed there were a few conditions when he signed up for the role -- such as refusing to wear tights. He said: “When they asked me if I’d do it I said, ‘as long as I can sing some Michael Buble and as long as you have seven real dwarfs’. “The third thing was I have to wear a kilt. Snow White has to be woken up by a true Scotsman -- you won’t see me dead in a pair of tights.” Darius added: “It’s just great to be home and great to be performing at the King’s. I’ve performed at every major theatre in the UK but the King’s is my favourite. It’s got this grand old school charm.” Being back in Glasgow for Christmas is important to the singer, who refused to say whether he’s still with LA-based fiancee, Species actor Natasha Henstridge. The couple split in February but were spotted back together in the summer. He’s keen to spend time with his dad Booth Danesh, who has recovered after a long battle with cancer. Darius famously had his own health scare this year. He says he still feels lucky to be alive after breaking one of the vertebrae in his neck a horror car crash while on holiday in Spain As reported in the Evening Times, the Porsche he was in hit a wall at 70mph and he was just millimetres from being paralysed. He said: “I have to do physio five times a day. I’ve made a full recovery. I was lucky to walk away from it. I woke up and the doctors said I’d broken my third vertebra so I’m very lucky.” Darius has come a long way since his legendary cringeworthy performance of Britney Spears’ Hit Me Baby saw him thrown off Popstars in 2000. He made a comeback on Pop Idol the next year and finished third after Will Young and Gareth Gates. He turned down a record deal from Cowell and went on to have a No.1 hit with his self-penned single Colourblind in 2002. He has also starred in West End musicals. As well as preparing for the panto, Darius brings his own show History of the Big Bands to the King’s next week. It was inspired by his grandad, Colin Campbell, who loves that style of music. Darius was thrilled when he got to ask his hero Tony Bennett for some advice. Darius said: “It was at a lunch held in his honour for his incredible career. “I got the chance to spend some time with him and ask him for some advice. He said to choose songs that you love singing. I thought it would be great to do a show that transported people back to the 1920s and gave them a musical journey through the big band era.” Darius’ year also saw him star in an opera when he took the lead role in Carmen at London’s O2 in front of 20,000 people after winning Pop Star to Opera Star. And he says a Christmas back in Glasgow -- where he has a flat in the city centre -- will be the perfect finish to 2010. He said: “To have come full circle with that, to have broken my neck and recovered, for my dad to be in full health and to be home for Christmas and be able to perform for a home crowd its just a dream come true.” Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at the King’s Theatre, Glasgow, from Friday, December 3, until Sunday, January 9. Tickets are available from the box office on 0844 871 7648 or from www.ambassadortickets.com/glasgow

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