A Michael Jackson tribute act has said recent controversial documentary Leaving Neverland hasn't harmed business at all - if anything it's been 'like an advertisement' for his show.

Edward Cook, 30, insists business is 'booming' and that sexual abuse allegations made against the late singer in the docu-series are 'having a positive effect'.

Cook, who performs under the name Simply Jackson, says he does not believe Wade Robson and James Safechuck - who have claimed Jackson abused them as children - and will continue to perform as a tribute act for the performer.

Edward Cook out of costume. Credit: SWNS

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Cook next to Jackson's Star of Fame. Credit: SWNS

Cook said: "People are talking about Michael Jackson again.

"In a roundabout way, it is having a positive effect. The only thing it has done is increase bookings.

"It's quite a selfish thing for me to say because I do respect what the Jackson family are going through right now.

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"Business is just going to carry on booming and booming.

"The music is so good you can't cancel it."

Pointing out that Robson and Safechuck previously defended Jackson against claims he preyed on children, Cook said he experienced a similar 'boom' in interest in his act during Jackson's 2004 trial, which saw the star accused - and acquitted - of molesting Gavin Arvizo, 13.

According to the Simply Jackson website, Cook has 'vocal ability like no other'.

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Cook as Michael Jackson. Credit: SWNS

The website even features an endorsement, from Jackson's mother Katherine which says: "You're polite and you look good."

Asked about whether or not he believed the allegations made against Jackson, Cook said: "There is no part of me that thinks there is any truth in it.

"It has actually made me enjoy it more because what I would tell people saying they won't see my act is 'don't watch it then'.

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"In the past it was easier because he was here to stick up for himself. Now he has passed away no one can ring him up and ask what is going on.

"I was panicking after the documentary came out, thinking 'How will we tell the public this is not true?'.

"If someone has been abused that is very serious but there is just no way of telling whether there is any truth in it.

"I wouldn't impersonate someone who gets up to that sort of thing."

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Cook performing as part of his Simply Jackson act. Credit: SWNS

Cook, who hails from Suffolk, said his obsession with Jackson started when he was five-years-old and had heard the Thriller album for the first time.

The following Christmas, he got given a VHS tape of the singer's greatest hits. He said he was 'blown away'.

"I wanted to learn to be like that," he said.

"I couldn't get from one room to the next in school without doing a dance.

"It was always in my heart to be Michael Jackson when everyone else wanted to be Arnold Schwarzenegger."

Shortly after he watched the tape, Cook started performing as Jackson, and was winning national tribute act competitions by the time he was 18.

He was eventually noticed by the Jackson family, who invited him to perform at a hotel in Devon back in 2008.

Cook said he sat with them as they spoke to Jackson on speakerphone.

Cook performing as MJ. Credit: SWNS

Edward, who performs around the UK, said: "I felt a bit awkward hearing him talk to his family about how his next shows would be 'sooner than you think'.

"I thought 'this is such an intimate, normal family conversation'."

Cook, who says it normally takes him three hours of hair and make-up to get into character for his shows across the UK, said that the thing that most struck him was how 'normal' Michael Jackson was.

He had been invited as a fan to a London press conference ahead of Jackson's planned comeback tour.

Michael Jackson was unable to attend due to a last-minute change of plans, but his nephews Taj and TJ were there.

Cook with TJ Jackson. Credit: SWNS

"I waited from 7am to 8pm for him to turn up at the press conference," he said.

"After he appeared, I went to his hotel in London and sat on a postbox outside to get above all the other fans.

"I shouted his name and he waved at me. I thought to myself, 'I will leave it there. I don't want to take the p***'.

"The number of fans who wanted to be close to Michael could be quite scary, and I didn't want to frighten him."

Cook said he has no plans to stop doing what he does, adding: "I never get bored.