Gest: 'Concert pressure killed Jackson'

David Gest has claimed that Michael Jackson was killed by the stress of his impending live shows at London's O2.

The TV star and singer's friend told The Sun that Jackson was unhappy at having been booked to play 50 shows, rather than the ten originally announced.

Gest said: "Michael told me he was excited about getting back on stage. I told him I was proud of him. But I really believe in my heart of hearts that the pressure of those concerts killed Michael.

"He thought there were going to be ten dates as announced. But then all of a sudden [Doctor Tohme R.] Tohme, along with Randy Phillips, president of organisers AEG, had arranged 20, 30 then 50 dates."

He added: "Michael was being told: 'You are going to set the world record for concerts at the O2, you are going to beat Prince's record.'

"They knew how to feed into his ego. But when Michael realised his schedule, he began to panic. It was one show after another, with hardly any days off. He should never have been tied to so many, especially a guy who dances through more than half of his set."