4:13pm UK, Wednesday July 31, 2002

Darius Danesh is set to become the third Pop Idol contestant to score a number one hit.

sp darius danesh pop idol debut single

Hit man Darius

His debut single Colourblind has sold more than 20,000 copies so far and is on course to rise to the top.

If he does reach Number One he will topple Pop Idol rival Gareth Gates.

The singer was once a national laughing stock for his over-the-top performances when he was given the boot from ITV1's Popstars series.

However, he smartened up his appearance and toned down his arrogance to get through to the final three on TV's Pop Idol series and won a deal with Mercury Records.

Anti-US

If the song is a hit it will be the fifth Pop Idol number one after two each for the show's Gareth Gates and Will Young.

Meanwhile, George Michael's controversial single Shoot The Dog has only sold 3,000 copies.

It is heading for only number 12 in the new UK singles charts, according to The Sun.

The song was criticised for its anti-US lyrics and video showing Tony Blair as a lapdog to President George W Bush.