Darius Campbell-Danesh has sadly passed away at the age of 41, his family announced on Tuesday.
There's no denying that the Glasgow-born star is responsible for some of the most memorable moments of reality TV, as he went on to forge a very successful career in the music and theatre industry.
Darius first gained fame in 2001 after appearing on the hugely popular television series Popstars, where he sang an iconic rendition of Britney Spears' hit track ...Baby One More Time.
The judges weren't exactly blown away and during his feedback, Nigel Lythgoe told him: "You did a very strange thing today, which was the Britney Spears song. Erm and it was, and you did, over-egg the cake."
He then added: "We do not see you in this pop band, consequently we're not going to ask you back tomorrow."
Darius' fellow contestants were in tears when they found out he wasn't through to the next stage, but the Scottish singer took it all in his stride and remained in good spirits.
Nigel later said of him: "Darius is a survivor in life, and Darius will do whatever Darius has to do to survive. And it wouldn't surprise me if Darius does get a platinum disc in the next five years, and I wish him well in doing it."
A year later Darius was voted to the finals of fellow singing talent TV show, Pop Idol but he turned down Simon Cowell's record deal, and then signed with producer Steve Lillywhite.
Darius' first single, Colourblind, was released in July 2002 and entered the UK singles chart at number one, staying at the top of the charts for two weeks, it was certified silver.
His debut album, Dive In, was certified platinum in the UK in 2004, charting at number six on the UK Albums Chart during the competitive pre-Christmas sales. He subsequently had five UK top ten singles and a second gold album.
Darius had written all 12 songs on Dive In and even produced one of the tracks called 'Better Than That'.
Performing as Darius Danesh, he supported Colombian singer Shakira on her world tour and also went on to complete his own sell-out UK Dive In Tour.
His success led him to the West End stage and he had two runs in Chicago during 2005 and 2006, and at 25-years-old, he became the youngest actor to fill the role of Billy Flynn since the show first opened on Broadway in 1975.
The following year, after seeing Ewan McGregor in the role, Darius played the lead in Michael Grandage's Olivier Award-winning production of Guys and Dolls, starring as Sky Masterson.
Later that year he reprised his role of Billy Flynn for the 10th Anniversary charity performance of Chicago in London, to benefit the charities Breast Cancer Haven and Breast Health Institute, and in 2008 he returned to London's West End to play Rhett Butler in Sir Trevor Nunn's musical adaptation of Gone with the Wind.
A few years later at the beginning of 2010, Darius won the ITV show Popstar to Operastar, in which eight pop stars were trained to perform famous opera arias.
He was mentored by tenor Rolando Villazón, with whom he went on to duet with on the song 'The Impossible Dream' and in May 2010, he appeared as toreador Escamillo in Bizet's opera Carmen at London's O2 Arena.
