Jackson 'wants signing child choir'

Michael Jackson wants to hire a child choir whose members are able to use sign language, it has been claimed.

According to The Mirror, promoters AEG Live have sent the request to casting agents ahead of Jackson's 50-date residency at London's O2.

A source said: "Normally when we cast choirs for acts, it's quite a laborious task. But in this case, it’s proving a near impossibility.

"Jacko is a perfectionist and wants it exactly right and that means every child being able to do sign language. AEG are desperate to keep Jacko happy and so are pulling out all the stops to make it happen. But it's a race against time."

It is alleged that the singer wants the choir to consist of "exactly equal" numbers of white, black, mixed-heritage and Asian children.

He is also said to have requested six marching snare drummers who are "young adults, clean-cut and of mixed ethnicity".