Danesh earns ovation for Rhett portrayal

Darius Danesh has earned a standing ovation for his portrayal of Rhett Butler in the stage version of Gone With The Wind.

The singer impressed a star-studded audience including Joan Collins, Barbara Windsor and Twiggy during the opening night of the West End production at the New London Theatre.

Actress girlfriend Natasha Henstridge and band McFly were also on hand to congratulate him at the after-show party.

Danesh described the three-and-a-half-hour show as a "blast", saying: "It was my first opening night and it was great to cut my teeth with the inimitable Trevor Nunn."

Independent critic Paul Taylor praised the former Pop Idol contestant's "diabolically dashing" turn and said he brought "a seductively insolent charm" to the part made famous by Clark Gable in the 1939 film.

However, the Telegraph accused him of giving a "stilted impersonation" of Gable and the show itself received lukewarm reviews.