Former Sheppey schoolboy Ben Bowman is to perform his stunning Michael Jackson tribute show on the stage of the most famous variety theatre in the world.

On Saturday, April 6, Ben takes over the 2,200-seat London Palladium for what is billed as Britain's biggest celebration of the King of Pop.

Ben, 32, admitted: "I am totally astounded. I certainly didn’t see this coming when I met my manager in the Ivy Leaf bar in Sheerness 10 years ago!"

Ben will also make his debut at the O2 Indigo arena on Friday June 21, just before the 10th anniversary of the pop star's death on June 25, in what is becoming a landmark year for the Islander.

Ben promised: "They are both going to be a Thriller of a night with my live band, stunning dancers and state-of-the-art light show."

It was a chance meeting in the Ivy, a tiny club in the back streets of Sheerness, in 2009 which changed his life.

Ben, who was already performing low-key shows as his idol, recalled: “Michael had just died and I was in a dodgy place and not sure if I could carry on.”

Step forward James Baker, a sound engineer who had just finished touring with singer Kiki Dee.

Ben, a former barman at Priory Hill Holiday Park, Leysdown, said: “As we talked, we realised we had a lot in common. I took him to one of my gigs and he offered to manage me. We’ve been together ever since.”

Last year the pair split from promoter Sweeney Entertainments and teamed up with Cuffe and Taylor.

Much of the new show, simply called Michael, was put together in secret at the Priory Hill club over the winter.

Ben, who still lives on Sheppey, has certainly come a long way since entertaining fellow pupils at Minster College at lunchtimes.

His first public appearance miming to his hero was at Ray Featherstone's Sheerness County Youth Club followed by a one-off guest spot with JR King's Juggernaut Roadshow at Sheerness East Working Men's Club.

He then signed up for singing lessons. His first paid gig at the Wyvern Hall in Swallows Leisure Centre, Sittingbourne, in 2005 went down a storm.

He now performs in theatres across Britain and at festivals here and abroad.

Last year he played the Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury for the first time.

This year he makes his debut at the Assembly Hall, Tunbridge Wells, on April 12 and returns to the Winter Gardens, Margate, on September 14.

Palladium tickets cost £29 to £73 and O2 tickets cost £29.15 to £46.15.