Hi, it's Darius here...
If you're visiting this page for the first time, and in case you didn't watch Pop Idol in the UK, I'm the guy who stood up to the judges and said I’d have a number one single and a platinum album by the time I was 35, and then turned Simon Cowell's million-pound record deal down. Thanks to the support of the British public, I became a runner-up-turned-underdog who clinched a 5-album record deal with Grammy-winning U2 producer Steve Lillywhite. I followed in the footsteps of singer-songwriters I admired like Seal and George Michael, and carved my own path, achieving my goal before I was even 25, when my self-penned debut album went platinum and I had a number one record with "Colourblind" - a song Simon originally thought wasn't any good!

My life has been a roller-coaster since then... In the last few years I've been blessed to have platinum and gold albums, notch-up 5 top-ten singles, support Shakira in Paris on her World Tour; complete a sell-out UK tour; become an Ambassador for the Prince's Trust; contribute to the War Child charity album with Coldplay and Oasis; write a no. 6 Sunday Times Best Seller book, Sink or Swim; and headline in India with Alanis Morissette. From crowds of 10 to 10,000 - in 6 years I have performed live to over half a million people.

I've been very lucky to be able to develop my passion for acting too, and celebrated a five month sell-out West End run in the musical "Chicago" during 2005-2006. At 25, I officially became the youngest actor to play the role of Billy Flynn (made famous by Richard Gere) since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975. In 2007 I took on a role I had originally watched Ewan McGregor play – and starred as Sky Masterson (originally played by Marlon Brando) in the Olivier Award-Winning Michael Grandage Production of "Guys and Dolls".

Off stage, I'm passionate about working with charities and do a lot of work with the Lymphoma Association to raise awareness of one of the least understood and fastest growing cancers (which my Dad was diagnosed with but beat), I support the charity Guitar Aid and even designed a guitar for them, and I continue to work with the Prince's Trust and under-privileged young people.

Through all of the wonderful things I have experienced in a relatively short time, I believe that it's not so much our status in life that matters, but the hurdles we overcome that define who we are, and bring us closer to happiness. I'm only 28, but there are a lot of things I want to do with my life yet – a lot of songs I want to write, a lot of people I want to meet, a lot of places I want to go, a lot of things I want to be... and yet, the greatest lesson I have learned is to accept myself and people around me with love for who we are now - and to live in the moment and appreciate what we have today. To regret not yesterday, and fear not tomorrow... Life's too short, right?! You've got to believe in you, no matter what anybody says about you, if you believe in yourself and work hard, there’s nothing you can't achieve...

Well, I hope you like my page. I'm working on my third studio album in London and LA, and am open to all that life throws my way... including messages and any comments you guys want to throw at me!

Wishing you and yours love always,

Darius