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The ITV company could face damages running into millions of pounds if Jackson takes the case to court successfully, which the broadcaster is seeking to avoid, according to a report in the Mail on Sunday.

The programme, screened in February, was an unflattering portrayal of the popstar and revealed that he shared his bed with children, which caused a public uproar at the time.

The programme attracted 15.1m viewers, a 54% market share, and is reported to have netted £3m in advertising revenue, with advertisers including Guinness and Rover and 30-second slots being bought for £100,000 a time.

Jackson slammed the programme and accused it of being selectively edited and designed to show him in the worst possible light. He responded with his own documentary, which was filmed by his team at the same time Bashir was shooting his.

In Jackson's show, broadcast on News Corporation's Fox Television channel in the US and on its sister channel Sky One in the UK, Bashir was seen to praise and compliment the popstar on his parenting. None of this footage appeared in Bashir's programme.

Jackson began legal action against Granada soon after the documentary was broadcast in the UK. He claims that Bashir u-turned on an agreement to let him see the documentary before it was screened and another to only show his children with their masks on. Jackson also wants unseen footage of him handed over.

According to the MoS, Jackson's UK spokeswoman Melanie Riley said no settlement had been agreed, although his US representative Stuart Vackerman said an announcement is likely in the coming weeks.

There have been suggestions that Jackson is under financial pressure and may want to avoid a lengthy and expensive court battle, which could mean Granada may get its way.

Bashir is also accused of failing to secure written consent from the parents of children who featured in the documentary. Two complaints have been lodged with the Broadcasting Standards Commission and the Independent Television Commission, which have been set aside until the outcome of the legal action is known.

Last week, Jackson was shown at his 45th birthday party wearing a jacket with the name Bashir in a circle with line through it, like a no entry sign. The words "Don't waste your cash on that filthy tabloid trash" surrounded the symbol.

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