Whitney Houston is reportedly set to seal her eagerly-awaited comeback with a string of concerts in London - filling in the dates left empty by Michael Jackson's planned residency at the O2 arena.

The King of Pop was due to perform 50 shows at the venue, kicking off earlier this month and spanning into next year.

His death from a cardiac arrest last month left a string of empty dates at the arena, with bosses at promoters AEG Live facing a race against time to fill the slots.

Houston, who next month releases her first album in seven years, is being touted as a potential contender to take on some of the 23 dates Jackson had scheduled for early next year.

British singer Robbie Williams is also being lined up to fill the dates left empty by the "Thriller" hitmaker's death, according to London's Evening Standard newspaper.

A source tells the publication, "Robbie's eagerly awaited album will be out soon and he is likely to be touring Europe next year. It will be perfect from him to start with shows at the O2.

"Whitney Houston has been on the O2 arena wish-list for a while - she has the voice and hits to sell out the arena out several times over."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)