Michael Jackson to announce London gigs on Thursday

Michael Jackson is expected to announce a series of summer comeback concerts at the O2 arena in London. The pop legend is due to appear at the venue on Thursday make to a "special announcement", a statement said. It follows months of speculation about a string of money-spinning shows. Jackson last performed in 2006, at the World Music Awards in London.

But he disappointed fans at that event by singing just a few lines of We Are The World. He last toured 12 years ago. The O2, in Greenwich, south-east London, is the venue where Prince played for 21 nights in 2007, and where Britney Spears is performing for eight nights in June. Jackson would be likely to follow a similar pattern of a run of gigs at one venue, rather than an extensive tour. At Thursday's press conference, he will hope to convince fans he is fit enough to perform a number of full shows.

His last substantial series of concerts came in 1996 and '97, when he played 82 shows in 58 cities as part of the HIStory tour. His last album of original material came out in 2001. Stories about personal, health and financial problems have circulated in recent years, and he was cleared of child abuse after a four-month trial in 2005. The singer is selling many of the contents of his former Neverland ranch at auction in Los Angeles next month. But with classic releases like Thriller - the world's best-selling album - plus Bad and Off the Wall, he is the most successful entertainer of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and retains a huge global fan base. BritishConcerts.com allows a price comparison between box offices so you can get the best seats at the best prices - stay tuned !

Michael Jackson to tour, auction personal items

Singer Michael Jackson is arranging an auction at which he plans to sell his personal memorabilia.

Some of the 2000 items include the wrought iron gates from his Neverland Ranch and one of the white gloves he wore in his 1983 Billie Jean video. Auctioneer Darren Julien said Jackson had been sorting through his personal memorabilia and art collection and had "complete control" over the sale. The five-day auction is set to take place in Beverly Hills in April. "We have been working closely with him for five months and he is in complete control of this," Mr Julien said. He added that a similar white glove once owned by Jackson fetched $35,000 (£23,452) at an auction in 2006. A year before that the singer's white socks went for $15,000 (£10,000).

In November, the 50-year-old star lost ownership of the Neverland ranch in California. He filed legal papers which made the Sycamore Valley Ranch Company the new owner. The company is linked to investment firm Colony Capital, which bailed the singer out in March when he owed $24.5m (£16m) on the property. The refinancing deal meant Jackson could keep the sprawling property, but he is still planning to sell off the ranch gates.

"We have not put an estimate on the gates yet. There is a lot of history there," he said. The 2,700-acre ranch once included a zoo, a lake and an amusement park. It was also the place where prosecutors claimed Jackson had molested young boys during sleepovers.

The auction catalogue will sell for $100 (£67), with a limited signed edition available for $500 (£335). A portion of the sale proceeds will go to the charity Musicares. Last month, Jackson was taken to court by an Arab sheik, who claimed the singer owed him millions for reneging on a music contract. They eventually settled out of court. However, Mr Julien insisted the star was not being forced into selling off his items. "This is something that Michael is doing of his own free will. He is not being forced into it," he said. Highlights of the collection will go on a tour expected to include London, Tokyo, New York, Dubai and Santiago.
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Michael Jackson to appear in UK court

Singer Michael Jackson is to give evidence at London's High Court to counter allegations that he breached a music contract with an Arab sheikh. The star is due to appear in court next week after his lawyer announced that he had been cleared by his medical advisers to travel from the US. Mr Jackson, 50, is expected to arrive in the UK over the weekend and will give evidence on Monday afternoon. An application for him to appear via video link was withdrawn.

"He has been cleared by his medical advisers to travel in two days' time," said the pop star's barrister, Robert Englehart QC. The King of Bahrain's second son, Sheikh Abdulla Bin Hamad Bin Isa Al-Khalifa, claims Mr Jackson reneged on a music deal. He is suing the performer for £4.7 million, claiming that under their agreement, an album, stage play and candid autobiography were to be produced. The Bahraini royal gave evidence on Thursday, and agreed under questioning that Mr Jackson is an "emotionally vulnerable" person. But he added that he was a "delightful" person and always "with it".

"I regarded him in the same way as other businessmen. He is a person who is very switched on, a fantastic businessman and fantastic intellectual," Sheikh Abdulla said. He confirmed to the court that he sent Mr Jackson $350,000 (£236,210) and then $1 million (£675,000) during the singer's child abuse trial in 2005.

But he denied the payments were gifts, and told the court they "were sent to help Michael, and many times he confirmed to me he would pay me back". The pop star was invited to Bahrain after his acquittal by the Sheikh, and stayed in the Gulf state for six months. The court has already heard that the sheikh planned to revive Mr Jackson's career with songs he had written himself. Mr Jackson has rejected the allegations, saying there was no valid agreement and that the case was based on "mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence". He added that no project was ever finalised, and any payments he received from the sheikh were "gifts".

Earlier this week, the court heard that Mr Jackson may be suffering from an unspecified medical condition and that "even in a best-case scenario it would be unwise to travel" to the UK to give evidence. A letter from the singer's doctor was shown to the court but not read out. At the time, Mr Jackson's lawyer added that he was awaiting the outcome of test results. The sheikh's legal team contended that the outcome of pathology tests would take no more 48 hours to be determined. The defence team's experts also said that, even if test results were positive, it would be possible for Mr Jackson to fly to London with "suitable dressings". The case is being held in London by mutual agreement of both parties.

(Image, BBC)

David Gest in hospital after heart scare

US music producer David Gest has been rushed to hospital after experiencing severe chest pains early on Wednesday morning. The star, friend of Michael Jackson, was at his London home when taken in and was rushed to a nearby private hospital. The 54-year old is said to be in a stable condition. The illness comes just days after his ex-wife Liza Minnelli was hospitalised after collapsing after appearing on stage in Sweden.

David Gest is putting together a stage musical autobiography of his life entitled DAvid Gest Is Nuts. It is due to tour the UK early in 2008. Tickets can be bought - here -