Pop mogul Pete Waterman today called Michael Jackson “the greatest entertainer who has ever walked the face of the earth”. The record producer and songwriter said he had worked with Jackson many times during his musical career.

“Like hundred of millions of people around the world, I find myself reflecting sadly at the loss of quite simply the greatest entertainer who has ever walked the face of the earth,” said Waterman, also known as a railway enthusiast and Walsall FC fan.

“Michael Jackson took popular music to another level, somewhere it had never been before and somewhere it will certainly never go again.

“The Beatles may have transcended the Cold War by singing Yeah, Yeah Yeah, but when Michael Jackson did the Moonwalk, the world became a different place.

“And let’s not forget Michael was blowing our minds with his music when he was just a kid. I can still remember my mate coming up to me with a copy of ABC and saying: “You have got to listen to this”.