Jackson residency extends to 50 dates

Michael Jackson has added further dates to his O2 residency in an attempt to keep up with rising demand from fans.

A total of 50 dates are now planned for the singer's "final curtain call" and will take the stint well into 2010, says the BBC.

A week ago, Jackson announced to fans that he would perform ten dates at the London venue as his final farewell.

The number of dates has steadily increased due to unprecedented interest and presale tickets for 30 shows between July and September sold out on Tuesday. Initially 12 dates were added but a further eight will now see the stint running until next February.

If all 50 gigs sell out, Jackson will have sold one million seats in what organisers have hailed as the fastest selling residency in history.