What a thriller! Michael Jackson back on stage in the UK for the first time in nine years, recreating the video that made him the world's biggest star.

But with a comeback performance that ended after just a few faltering lines at the World Music Awards in London, the King of Pop's career appears to be stuck in the graveyard.

It was Jackson's first appearance on stage since he was acquitted of child molestation charges in California last year. The 48-year-old had been set to reprise his famous Thriller video after receiving a WMA Diamond Award from the singer Beyoncé for having sold more than 100 million discs.

Before Jackson took to the stage, there was huge excitement at the Earls Court centre, where 7,000 fans had spent up to £70 a ticket to see the star.

But both fans and celebrity guests were kept waiting for 30 minutes while the singer overcame a bout of stage fright, with Beyoncé 's help, and was then reportedly driven from dressing room to stage.

Accepting the award, Jackson thanked his fans "all over the world" and said: "I dedicate this to the so many that have loved me and stayed by me throughout these years in the entertainment business.

"While I cannot meet all of them I would like to thank my wonderful children, Paris, Prince and Blanket for their unconditional love and support and my mother and my father, my brothers and sisters, my entire family for their love and support.

"I thank you I love you all, all the fans from the bottom of my heart."

But instead of singing Thriller, the 1982 hit that made him the world's biggest popstar, Jackson instead joined a group of youngsters on stage to sing only a few lines of We Are The World, his voice appearing to crack and falter on the high notes.

As the musical accompaniment disappeared, the performance finished and Jackson threw his black sequinned jacket into the crowd. Thriller was sung instead by the 17-year-old Chris Brown, the latest R&B sensation from the US.

Jackson's participation in the awards reportedly cost the organisers some $500,000, including a private jet and an entire five-star hotel (where a wall was knocked down to give the children in his entourage more room to play).

If no publicity is bad publicity, then it was money well spent. But Jackson's performance cast doubt on his ability to resurrect his career through an album reportedly scheduled for release next year.

Pete Paphides, the Times chief rock critic, is among the doubters. "It would take a huge suspension of what we already know about him for Michael Jackson to become a credible artistic force again," he said.

"He can make a record that is as good as the producers he decides to work with, but it will still be Michael Jackson and we can't just forget what we know about him.

"As with so many pop monoliths, and not just Michael Jackson, you can admire them but whether you feel an emotional connection. And it doesn't help - if you want a bit of empirical evidence - that his last three albums have been absolutely rubbish."

The 18th edition of the World Music Awards, which were being held in Britain for the first time, featured performances from Beyoncé, Enya, Katie Melua and Nelly Furtado. The former British army officer James Blunt won two awards.

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