Bashir: I was offered £1m for Diana book

TV journalist Martin Bashir told Michael Jackson he was offered £1 million to write a book about Princess Diana after her death.

His comments came in video footage shown to jurors during Jackson's child abuse trial.

They film was made by the star's personal videographer Hamid Moslehi, taping Bashir making the documentary Living With Michael Jackson.

In the film, Bashir tells the singer: "Three weeks after Princess Diana died, I was offered one million in sterling to write a book. This guy said to me, 'We want you to write a book. She is dead now.' He pushed the contract in front of my face. As if I would be impressed by all those noughts."

At this point, Moslehi's tape stops. Diana confessed to an affair with James Hewitt during an interview with Bashir in 1995.

Jackson's defence claims Bashir's documentary - in which the star admitted sleeping with boys - distorted some of its elements.

On the Moslehi tape Jackson discusses how lonely his life is. When asked why he loves children, he says that in the Bible Jesus says the child is the most humble and innocent.

"I haven't been betrayed or deceived by children," he says. "Adults have let me down."

Later Jackson asks Bashir if he liked "Jesus juice" - the star's name for wine, according to his accuser, Gavin Arvizo.

The footage followed the appearance in Santa Maria court of actor Macaulay Culkin.

The 24-year-old said he frequently shared Jackson's bed in the Nineties but denied he was molested. He branded the child abuse allegations " ridiculous".

Jackson, 46, denies molesting Arvizo, 13, plying him with alcohol and conspiring to hold him and his family captive.

The trial continues.