Darius Tours History of Big Band Show Pre Panto

Darius Campbell, the reality TV star previously known as Darius Danesh who shot to fame after competing in Pop Idol, will return to the stage with the national tour of his own swing show, The History of Big Bands, playing 11 UK dates this autumn.

Campbell, who changed his surname to reflect his Scottish roots, kicks off his tour in St Albans on 11 September 2010 before one-night visits in Lincoln, Buxton, Brighton, Wimbledon, Inverness, Darlington, Woking, Bromley and Eastbourne, where it finishes on 4 November. He also tours to Glasgow’s King’s Theatre, where he will later be spending Christmas as Prince Charming in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

The History of Big Bands features a 16-piece band and incorporates tunes made famous by the world’s great band leaders, including Glenn Miller and Duke Ellington.

The swing show adds another string to Campbell’s bow. The singer-songwriter has also appeared in the musicals Chicago, Guys and Dolls and, most recently, Trevor Nunn’s ill-fated West End production of Gone With the Wind. He recently returned to ITV with another talent show, Popstar to Operastar, in which he competed against seven other chart-toppers, including Jimmy Osmond and Kym Marsh, for the title of Operastar. He was mentored by opera star Rolando Villazon, went on to win the competition and has since played Toreador, Escamillo in Carmen at The O2 Arena.