Fans waited in the rain for a glimpse of the stars

And actress Joan Collins gave a glowing introduction as the frail screen siren took the stage.

"Elizabeth Taylor has crammed more adventure into one life than Indiana Jones, had more perils than Pauline, been married more times than Henry VIII and through tireless charity work saved more lives than Florence Nightingale and James Bond," she said.

The audience rose to their feet as Dame Elizabeth, 68, stepped forward to make a speech.

She returned to her familiar theme of raising Aids awareness, telling them: "Although we've made tremendous strides in terms of treating this terrible disease, sadly the benefits of that research are only available to a few."

As she took a second ovation, Jackson walked onto the stage with a huge bouquet of white flowers.

He did not perform but looked relaxed in his first appearance on a British stage in three years.

Smoothly does it: Veteran crooner Tony Bennett

Artists taking part in the show included Martine McCutcheon, Debbie Harry, Jamiroquai and Italian opera star Andrea Bocelli.

Former Wet Wet Wet singer Marti Pellow used the occasion to make his stage comeback after spending time in a rehab clinic.

He performed his hit Love Is All Around, which like most of the songs during the concert was drawn from a film.

The gala comes just two days after Dame Elizabeth was awarded the British Film Institute Fellowship in a lavish ceremony at the city's Dorchester Hotel.

Jackson's fans have been camped outside the hotel, where the singer is reported to be staying.

Health worries

Friday's show, like the BFI dinner, is to benefit the Red Hot Aids Charitable Trust and the Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation.

Dame Elizabeth has made a series of public appearances since her arrival at Buckingham Palace in a wheelchair last week to be invested as a Dame by the Queen.

The British double Oscar winner, who has lived in the United States for years, also flew into Cannes to make a speech at a Cinema Against Aids dinner and gave a rare TV interview earlier this week.

She has been plagued by ill health in recent years, retired early after both dinners, after complaining of feeling unwell.