.Part two.
As we take time out for some food, Darius wanders around the house, offering to make cups of tea and chatting to everyone as if he's known them for years. He's brought his guitar and launches into an acousitc version of Colourblind (swoon!) with our talented photographer stepping in as his backing singer.
During lunch we learn more things about him. Firstly, he spends at least five minutes brushing his teeth after every meal. Secondly he performed in a school production of Oliver with his flies open (he was comando at the time), and finally, he was once mistaken for Boyzone's Keith Duffy by every photographer in London.
"It was way before Popstars and i was at the James Bond premire, on a date," he explains, as we find another comfy corner to continue our chat. "The photographers were shouting, 'Keith! Oi, Keith, give us a smile mate!' I just kept my head down and ran inside. I don't look like him, do I?" Erm, no but the ponytail probably didn't help.
Not surprisingly the conversation soon reverts back to girls ("I've had alot of experience.") Darius has had 6 serious girlfriends so far and he's still good friends with all of them. No kiss-and-tells on the horizon for this pop boy, then! In fact, he's much more of an old romantic than a sex-crazed Casanova who'll take advantage of his fame.
"The most romantic thing i've ever done for someone? Well...." He shifts in his chair and goes a little pink. "When i was 14, all my mates took the mickey out of me because i had long eyelashes. I was seeing this girl and one of them told me that she secretly hated them - so i cut them all off" He starts laughing and shakes his head. "My mum freaked at me! And when i went into school the next day, my girlfriend was distraught. She said "Oh, darius what have you done? I loved your eyelashes!' My mates though it was hilarious.
"I'd cut my eyelashes into a newspaper which had been thrown in the dustbin. So i ended up going through the smelly old bins on my hands and knees until i found my eyelashes again. I tipped them into a card and sent them to her. She cried when she got them." Tears of happiness we hope! What a softie - this is the kind of guy you could take home to show your mum.
It's getting dark outside and we've finshed all our photos for the day. Darius good-humoured as ever, busies himself signing autographs for the SH team, our mums and our mates. He's happy to carry on long after his cab arrives, writing a personal note on each picture. Gorgeous, polite and friendly: he's pretty much the perfect popstar. He might already be a household name, but this is just the begining for Big D.
DARIUS'S SHOWS US
WHAT'S IN HIS BAG
"I keep sheets of lyrics and ideas for songs in here - I pull it out and write them down when im feeling inspired. I'm writing a ballad called Girl In The Moon at the moment and another really upbeat song which is very dancey."
"I always carry this because sometimes i have to crash at the studio or a hotel. I've got Virgin Vie For Men deodorant, Laboratoire Garnier Stop Signs moisturiser, Tigi conditioner and some of this amazing energy serum which you massage into your scalp to wake you up."
"Well, you never know when something might go wrong with mine. I can't be incommunicado!"
"I'm always listening to different sounds. I've got Marvin Gaye- gotta love Marvin! - Madonna, Basement Jaxx, the kisstory album, the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack, Robbie - i love Robbie - and N*E*R*D."
"I carry it around because i never know when im going to have to jump on a plane. Everyone always looks at my passport picture - i was 15 with floppy hair."
"I always carry one of these around for signing autographs - i'm getting used to it now!"
"In the studio we subscribe to The Face and Smash Hits. But i like to read mens' mags like FHM as well."