Favourable wind blows for pop idol star

Updated 07.45 Wed Apr 23 2008

Keywords: trevor nunn, idol, star, pop, rhett butler, wind, gone, darius danesh

Pop Idol star Darius Danesh received an ovation for his performance as Rhett Butler in the new production of Gone With The Wind.

The Glasgow-born singer stars opposite US performer Jill Paice in the Trevor Nunn show.

"I had a blast, it was my first opening night and it was great to cut my teeth with the inimitable Trevor Nunn" -Darius Danesh

A star-studded audience turned out to watch Danesh take on the role made famous by Clark Gable in the 1939 film.

The first preview of the adaptation of the 1936 Margaret Mitchell novel ran to four hours, this version has been cut down to three-and-a-half hours including the interval.

Actresses Joan Collins and Barbara Windsor, broadcaster David Frost, comic and writer Ben Elton, model Twiggy, ex-Blue singer Duncan James and Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Philips turned out to watch the musical adaptation.

Danesh said: "I had a blast, it was my first opening night and it was great to cut my teeth with the inimitable Trevor Nunn."