Michael Jackson Was Ready For Comeback Shows, Promoter Says

Michael Jackson was ready for his comeback shows in London, despite reports that he was in ill health, his promoter has said.

Randy Philips, who convinced Jackson to commit to the 50 concerts at the O2 Arena, said the star had been “amazing” at a rehearsal just two days before his death.

"On Wednesday night at 12.30am when we were leaving the rehearsals, he gave me a hug and said, 'Now I know I can do this',” Philips told Sky News.

“The next day I was at the dry cleaners... and I got a call saying, 'You have to get to the house'."

Philips, who was with Jackson when he passed away, denied media reports that the star was unwell and looking frail in the weeks before his death.

"I invested a lot of myself in making this comeback happen and he was so happy and he was so amazing in the final week," he said.

Images of Jackson's final rehearsal at the Staples Center in Los Angeles were released to the world's media yesterday.

Meanwhile, there are reports that a DVD and CD of the rehearsal could be released to mark the star's death.