The judge presiding over Michael Jackson's child molestation case has tonight given the star permission to respond to a potentially damaging news broadcast.

Jackson, who is due to face trial on January 31 for allegedly molesting a teenage boy, has been under a strict gag order to prevent him from influencing the jury.

A news report on ABC's Primetime Live last week featured leaks of the accuser's grand jury testimony. Amongst other things, the boy apparently alleged: "He [Jackson] told me that he wanted to teach me [to masturbate] & so we were laying in the bed, and then he started rubbing me & he put his hand down my pants and he started rubbing me & my private area & he was masturbating me."

Now Jackson has been given the right to reply in a televised interview to air on the FOX News Channel in advance of the jury selection.

The judge, Rodney Melville, arrived at his decision after meeting with both prosecutors and defence attorneys.

Jackson's lead attorney, Thomas Mesereau Jr., said of the Primetime Live leak: "This case will be won in the courtroom and not through 'leaks' in the media. When he has his day in court, Michael Jackson will be acquitted and vindicated."

Stick with Digital Spy in the weeks ahead for full coverage of the Michael Jackson trial.