10 life-changing moments: Darius Campbell talks family health battles, crisis points and returning home

DARIUS CAMPBELL has come a long way since finding fame on TV talent show, Popstars, in 2001.

He penned a bestselling book and became a charity ambassador, film producer and a West End theatre star.

Darius became the youngest actor to play Billy Flynn in Chicago and has also starred in Guys And Dolls, From Here To Eternity and Gone With The Wind.

The 36-year-old from Bearsden, near Glasgow, is excited about returning to his home city when he performs in the role of Nick Arnstein at The King’s Theatre in Funny Girl.

Darius tells us his 10 life-changing moments.

LIFE SAVER

My dad has saved my life – twice.

The first time was when I was five in Allander Swimming Pool in Milngavie with my friends.

We were swimming through each other’s legs when my buddy suddenly locked his legs and held my head under the water.

He was too young to realise the danger, but I couldn’t breathe and remember thinking I was going to die.

I nearly blacked out and was gagging for air by the time my dad pulled me out.

Two years ago, I was visiting my parents when I collapsed. I woke up in hospital to be told I had a cerebral edema, which is where the brain swells against the skull.

Dad’s quick actions saved me from bacterial meningitis, so I owe him a lot.

CYRUS

When my parents told my little brother Aria and I that we would be welcoming another sibling, my immediate reaction was to accuse them of being irresponsible!

My mum was in her mid-to-late 40s and I was 15 and had just watched a documentary about the possible complications of older women giving birth.

When Cyrus was born I saw this little angel and apologised to my mum.

As I held him in my arms, he grabbed my nose and fell asleep. We’ve had a special bond ever since.

He was only young when I went to London for six weeks for the Pop Idol finals. He gave me a big hug, and said he wished me luck but didn’t want me to go.

Last year I was the one giving him a hug and wishing him luck as he went off to St Andrews University for his final year in Business and Economics, where he graduated with a first.

CHILDHOOD LOSS

I was playing Super Nintendo with my friends, William and Scott, one Friday evening and Scott said he would loan me the new Zelda game after the weekend.

I was really excited and I looked for him at school on Monday morning.

At assembly I asked someone if they’d seen Scott and they said: “Haven’t you heard?”

He’d gone into his attic, flicked the light switch, and was electrocuted and killed.

It made me realise early on how fragile life is. I still think of him and his family.

COLOURBLIND

I vividly remember when my first single, Colourblind, went to No.1.

It was a hot summer’s day and I was in the garden with my parents and two brothers. The three of us were having a hose fight and carrying on.

My manager tipped me off that morning that I’d be No.1, but I didn’t tell my family. They just hoped I would maybe reach the top 10.

I brought the radio out. When I switched it on, Colourblind was playing and afterwards the DJ said: “That was Darius – straight in at No. 1”.

Everyone started cheering, but then my brother Aria rugby tackled me from behind and I landed flat on my face!

DAD’S ADVICE

My dad had stage four lymphoma which spread to his spine. He had a grapefruit-sized tumour. I was in the hospital with him when he needed to be resuscitated. I sat on what I thought was his deathbed and held his hand.

He said he was proud of me and I was a great son and brother. He knew one of my dreams was to act and said not to let another year go by without pursuing it.

The next day I had an audition for Chicago. Everyone said I was too young at 25 to play Billy Flynn but I have my dad’s tenacity.

By the end of the week I had the role and was telling my dad to hold on, as I wanted him to see me in the show.

LIVE TWICE

We didn’t think Dad was going to make it and I wrote a song for him, Live Twice.

I felt it too personal to go on my second album, but my parents convinced me. It became my fifth Top 10 single and I got to play it at a Royal performance in the Albert Hall.

I don’t know how Dad coerced the staff, but he got out of the hospital – the first time in six months – to see me perform.

He had a nurse at either side and I remember the light falling on his face in the crowd as I played the song to him.

It was one of the greatest moments of my life and I knew then my dad was turning a corner in his battle.

SPECIAL FAN

I was playing a show when I saw a little boy with a swollen face. When I bent down to speak to him his eyes lit up.

I struck up a friendship with Matthew, who had leukaemia, and his mum Janet and sister Bex. They came all over the country to see me play.

He’d often look at a bracelet I wore, so I gave it to him and he refused to take it off – even in hospital.

I was one of the last people to speak with him. I sang at his funeral and still keep in touch with his mum and sister.

Matthew was such an inspiration to everyone and left an imprint of love.

MUM’S RECOVERY

Mum was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer that spread to her neck.

I couldn’t believe something like this was happening again to my parents. She was a specialist at The Beatson and was now being treated at her place of work.

When she was given the all-clear it was better than anything I could have hoped for. We’ve been celebrating ever since.

We try to get together as a family and mark the simple moments as much as we can.

CAR CRASH

I woke up in a Spanish hospital after being in a car crash on holiday.

I couldn’t feel my right leg and doctors told me I had broken the fourth vertebrae in my neck.

My life flashed before my eyes and I contemplated what I’d do if I couldn’t walk again.

I turned down an op to fuse my neck because they needed to go through my vocal box and my singing voice would change, so instead I had physiotherapy.

It was a wake-up call that made me realise how lucky I am.

FUNNY GIRL

We all go through ups and downs but what you read in the press isn’t always the reality.

Sheridan Smith is one of the most beautiful people, inside and out, I’ve ever met. She went through a difficult time losing her father to cancer.

I wasn’t supposed to be doing this tour because I’m producing a film with Mike Figgis and Orlando Bloom, but the movie was pushed back.

We hadn’t seen each other since her dad’s death, so when we joined the tour I gave Sheridan a big hug. There was no need for words, we knew we were there for each other.

We started the Funny Girl journey together, broke box office records and it’s great to share the audience appreciation.

Funny Girl, The King’s Theatre, Glasgow, Tuesday to Saturday, starring Darius Campbell and Natasha J Barnes as Fanny Brice.