[Romantic Old Bird]

Also from today's Daily record:

CHILDREN IN NEED HITS THE SCREENS WITH BIG BROTHER STARS : DREAM BIRD FOR DOTING DARIUS Nov 19 2004








THE air was sizzling when Darius came face to face with Jackie Bird . . . after the hunky pop idol revealed he had a 'crush' on the BBC newsreader.

The smitten pair were meeting up for the first time yesterday following Darius' confession he harboured a soft spot for her.

But the good news for the lovesick singer was a relationship, albeit a professional one, was 'emphatically' on.

In fact, the celebrity pair could hardly keep their hands off each other as they launched Children in Need in Scotland.

Jackie, 40, admitted that Darius, who at 23 is almost half her age, was gorgeous and joked he was the only man for her.

But she did have reservations. She said: 'I read in the papers that Darius liked me and was flattered, but then friends told me it was when he was at school.'

The singer, who recently stormed back into the top ten with his hit single Kinda Love, then grabbed the presenter and held her close, saying: 'I'm sorry, did really say that?'

But Jackie obviously forgave him - she made sure she quashed rumours Darius was dating Geri Halliwell and said they were the new celebrity couple.

She said: 'Forget Ginger Spice, I'm the only ginger in his life now. And a romance between us is emphatically on.'

Darius, who split up with Lynx model Jacqui Ainsley this year, is also said to have given the elbow to actress Natasha Henstridge.

But, in a romantic gesture, he swept the new girl in his life into the air and vowed: 'I won't let you go, Jackie.'

She said: 'I'm happy with where Darius's hands are just now actually.'

But the frisky fun was all a front, of course, as they teamed up for Children in Need's Scottish coverage. Darius said: 'I sang on Children in Need two years ago and Jackie said I should come back. So here I am, two years later, fulfilling my promise. It's a dream to work on this