David Gest thinks it's a "true shame" ex-wife Liza Minnelli cancelled UK tour for poor ticket sales

However, the three theatres were set to be half-empty - despite £40,000 being spent on promotion - due to a lack of interest and exorbitant ticket prices, with some seats priced at £300.

While Liza's tour is in tatters, her ex-husband Gest begins a massive run of concerts across the UK on Thursday September 24 when he opens to a sell-out crowd of 2,400 people at Newcastle City Hall with 'David Gest's (I've Had) The Time Of My Life Tour!'.

The incredible show will feature 10 legendary soul acts including the Righteous Brothers' Bill Medley - performing his first ever British concerts - former Three Degrees lead singer Sheila Ferguson, Deniece Williams, The Tymes, Billy Paul, Freda Payne, Gregory Abbott, Atlantic Starr's Barbara Weathers and 'Finally' hitmaker CeCe Peniston among others.

Gest's tour is playing 14 dates over three weeks and unlike Liza he will be travelling across the entire country from Preston Guild Hall to Liverpool's Echo Arena with most dates sold-out and only a handful of tickets left for others.

In Preston they have released seats behind the stage where you can hear the music but can't see the show due to popular demand.

His London date at the Grand Connaught Rooms on Wednesday October 07 includes a gala dinner, concert and celebrity auction - with tickets ranging from £175 to £500 available via Ticketline - and confirmed attendees include Dionne Warwick, Petula Clark, Kym Marsh and more than 60 other stars.

Despite Gest's turbulent relationship and acrimonious divorce from Liza, the former 'I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!' star is sad to see people saying his Hollywood legend ex-spouse is washed up in the entertainment business as he feels it is not true.

When asked if Gest, 62, had any comment on 69-year-old Liza's tour cancellation, his representative told BANG Showbiz: "David feels Liza is a true legend and believes everyone should see her live as she is the ultimate performer who always gives 100 per cent to her audiences. He produced her comeback concerts at the Royal Albert Hall in 2002 and she filled every seat. He feels the woman has talent in every finger and toe of her body."

Gest and Liza married in March 2002 in one of the most lavish and expensive celebrity weddings of all time, at which the late Michael Jackson acted as best man. They split in July 2003 and their divorce was finalised in April 2007.

Gest is currently strongly rumoured to be set to enter the 'Celebrity Big Brother' house in 2016 with a reputed £500,000 pay day.