MICHAEL Jackson's friend Mark Lester said yesterday that the singer wanted to perform his This Is It concerts so his children could see him doing "what daddy does best".
Former Oliver! child actor Lester said "perfectionist" Jackson would not have taken the 50 gigs on if he had doubts about his ability to complete them.
He also revealed how, despite his small frame, Jackson loved to tuck into his favourite meal of
fish and chips when he visited London.
Lester said: "I last spoke to Michael the weekend before last.
"We had a long chat on the phone. He was really excited to be coming over here."
Jackson had three children – Michael Joseph Jackson Junior, Paris Michael Katherine Jackson and Prince "Blanket" Michael Jackson II – and Lester said they were "everything" to the singer.
He said: "He wanted his children to see daddy do what daddy does best.
"The kids had never seen Michael performing live. This was their opportunity to see him.
"They had watched him on DVDs and on television, but they had never watched him doing his stuff live.
"He wanted that very much for his children to see, and of course for all the fans and everybody else, but the main motivation behind it was for them to see their daddy."
Talking about the concert commitment at London's 02 arena, he said: "Michael wouldn't have taken it on if he had any doubt that he couldn't have done it.
"He was a perfectionist and if he couldn't have done it to how he wanted to do it, he wouldn't have taken it on."
When asked about reports on Jackson's health and weight issues, Lester said: "We saw him in March and spent the weekend together – he was fit and healthy, we had fish and chips, his favourite meal whenever he comes to London.
"We were in the Lanesborough Hotel in London and had the pick of all the food in the hotel, but Michael had to have his fish and chips."
Talking about how they first met, Lester said: "It was just before he released Thriller, so I was about 20.
"His manager called and he said that, 'Michael would very much like to meet you'.
"We were delighted. So I was whisked off in a limousine – I took my sister with me and we were in this big hotel in the centre of London where Michael had the entire floor of the hotel.
"It was just surreal to meet this guy and I was really nervous about it.
"Michael just appeared at the door in a pair of jeans, baseball shoes and a sweatshirt and he gave me and my sister a really big hug and invited us in.
"We ordered up burgers and seemed to just chat and chat and chat."
He added: "He went out of his way to make people feel at ease. He was one of the most gentle people I've ever met in my life.
"He was polite and was an incredible father to his children. He was a very loving and giving person."
Meanwhile, All Star Mr & Mrs, host Phillip Schofield yesterday said that this Saturday's show, which features Tito Jackson, was being re-edited as there was a lot of discussion about his brother Michael.
Schofield wrote on his Twitter page: "Just been talking to the Producer of Mr & Mrs.
"Having to re-edit this Saturday's show as it features Tito Jackson.
"There was a lot of MJ talk."
Papers filed for children's guardianshipKATHERINE Jackson, the mother of the late singer, yesterday filed for guardianship of his three children.
The legal papers asking for custody of the children and control of their financial estate were filed in Los Angeles superior court yesterday morning, and a hearing has been set for the 3 August.
Michael Jackson had three children, Michael Joseph Jackson Jr, known as Prince Michael, 12; Paris Michael Katherine Jackson, 11; and Prince Michael II, seven. The first two were born to his former assistant Deborah Rowe, by – she has said – a sperm donor, and the youngest son was born to an unknown surrogate mother.
The legal papers show that Mrs Jackson is also petitioning to take over the children's estate, although its value is listed as "unknown" in the filed papers. The filing lists the children as living at the Jacksons' family compound in the San Fernando Valley, north-west of Los Angeles.
"Minor children are currently residing with paternal grandmother," the filing states in an explanation of why Mrs Jackson should be appointed guardian. "They have a long established relationship with paternal grandmother and are comfortable in her care."
The filings provide no other declarations by Mrs Jackson, nor do they state whether her son left a will.
They note that Ms Rowe is the mother of Jackson's two eldest children, but list her whereabouts as "unknown".
Forthe singer's third child, known as Blanket, the filing states "None" for the mother.
Jackson family attorney Londell McMillan said he had not yet seen a will. "There have been reports of (a will], and we are trying to assess that now. None has been presented to the family," he said.
It is not yet known if Ms Rowe plans to challenge for custody.
