Wacko Jacko airs his point of view

JOURNALIST Martin Bashir lavished praise on Michael Jackson and the “spiritual” quality of his Neverland ranch in a documentary shown on US television.

The reporter is shown showering compliments on the star for his generosity and loving relationship with his children in footage aired on US TV on Thursday night.

Jackson, 44, sold footage of the pair talking shot by his own camera for £1.6 million to the US Fox network after claiming the Granada programme, Living With Michael Jackson, “utterly betrayed” him.

The documentary also contained interviews with supporters of the singer in a show entitled: The Michael Jackson Interview: The Footage You Were Never Meant to See.

Bashir, who said Neverland was a “dangerous place” for vulnerable children in his documentary, is shown describing the ranch as “incredible”.

Jackson made an official complaint to TV watchdogs in Britain about Bashir’s documentary.

His lawyers said the original programme contained “clear innuendo” that the singer was guilty of inappropriate behaviour with children.

Irish viewers will be able to see the new documentary on Monday night at 9pm on Sky One.