Pete Waterman: ‘Darius could have gone on to be bigger than Michael Buble’

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former Pop Idol judge Pete Waterman has joined other figures from the music industry in remembering Darius Campbell Danesh, saying the singer “could have gone on to be bigger than Michael Buble”. The family of Scottish theatre star and singer Campbell Danesh announced his death aged 41 on Tuesday, saying in a statement he had been “found unresponsive in bed in his apartment room in Rochester, Minnesota, on August 11 and was pronounced dead in the afternoon by the local medical examiners’ office”. “Darius could have gone on to be bigger than Michael Buble because he’d got that talent.” Speaking about their friendship, hit-making record producer Waterman said: “We became great friends because I did champion him. Other Pop Idol alumni remembered the star with runner-up Gareth Gates saying he was “heartbroken” at the news, adding: “Darius took me under his wing during our time in Pop Idol, like a big brother; always looking out for me and for that I thank you my friend.” Music mogul Cowell said the singer’s death was a “tragedy”, saying: “He was charismatic, funny and just a great person to be with.”