With Michael Jackson's O2 residency now just weeks away, promoters AEG have been building up the hype with details of the show, and assurances that Jackson's fit as a fiddle.

"Originally we tried to keep the show down to 90 minutes, but Michael has so many must-do songs in his repertoire that the shows now will be two-plus hours," AEG Live head honcho Randy Phillips said.

He promised Billboard that the gigs would feature "the most cutting edge ever employed on a tour. We're using technology that's never been used before in live entertainment."

And no, these won't be hologram Jacksons with a Greatest Hits CD plugged in the back. "Michael's in incredible physical shape, he's got tremendous stamina, he's been working out aerobically preparing for this, and he is totally engaged," Phillips assured doubters. "He sounds like Michael Jackson. He is laser-focussed on making this the greatest entertainment event that fans have ever seen."