3AM: Worst Music Awards; JACKO FIASCO WAS JUST THE START... at the World Music AWARDS 2006.

Byline: Eva Simpson & Caroline Hedley

AND the prize for the most shambolic ceremony ever goes to...the World Music Awards.

Michael Jackson's long-awaited comeback - which ended up with him being booed off just four lines into We Are The World - wasn't the only thing that left organisers red-faced after Wednesday's calamitous event.

From our prime spot backstage, we watched aghast as a series of farcical fiascos unfolded...

On the night, organisers had to beg Beyonce to present Jacko with his Diamond Award for selling more than 100 million records because no one else would do it. She then had to spend 30 minutes pleading with him to go onstage.

The usually unflappable star was overheard telling aides: "You know, I never get angry but I'm getting really p***** off now."

Bey got even more furious when heavies banned her parents, Matthew and Tina Knowles, from Jacko's dressing room.

Jacko's mic was turned off after he finally made it on stage because the event had run past its 11pm curfew.

A pal of his told us: "He is terribly disappointed. He'd rehearsed four songs but had never agreed to do Thriller.

"He'd decided to sing She's Out Of My Life but each time his car drove up to the stage he was told it wasn't ready. Then his mic was cut off. It was just one disaster too far."

An awards spokesman confirmed yesterday: "The venue cut the sound at 11pm."

And Earls Court's PRs added: "From our understanding, Michael had stopped singing."

Peaches Geldof was plucked from the audience and asked to present the Latin American Award - just five minutes before it was due to be handed out.

Lindsay Lohan got booed, fell down the stairs and then had to abandon her role as host.

Katie Melua was hauled out of her dressing room to present Tokio Hotel with the Best German Award when the organisers discovered a "hole" in their schedule. Then, after being left hanging around for 20 minutes, she was told they wanted the Sugababes to do it instead.

The Sugababes were dragged off stage by their furious management after the prize-giving to Tokio Hotel was then axed because the show had overrun.

Pixie Geldof got crushed in the melee as stars tried to get into the pounds 800-a-head VIP area.

And that was just for starters!

The event, now in its 19th year, attracted big names such as Paris Hilton, Elle Macpherson, Tommy Hilfiger, Natalie Imbruglia and Jade Jagger.

But almost everyone we spoke to declared that it was one of the worst awards ceremonies they had ever attended.

A source, who asked not to be named, told us: "It was an extraordinary night, but for all the wrong reasons.

"Everything that could have gone wrong did. Everything was late, running orders were being made up during the show, celebs were being asked to do things with literally 10 minutes' notice.

"No one could be persuaded to give Michael Jackson his award - even Bon Jovi refused. In the end they begged Beyonce - she said yes, but it certainly wasn't in the schedule.

"At one point there was talk of flying in Janet Jackson at the last minute. It was total mess."

To cap it all, because she'd helped bail out the organisers Beyonce then missed her flight back to the States. Fortunately, billionaire Philip Green stepped in and offered her the use of his private jet.

In fact, the high street mogul single-handedly saved the event. His seven-figure cash injection at the last minute kept things afloat after organisers found that - as well as having to pay for most of the performances - they had to foot the bills for stars' travel, accommodation and backstage demands, which are usually paid for by record companies.

Talk about disastrous. We know who we won't be asking to sort out our Christmas party...

CAPTION(S):

NO POINT: Jacko was a disaster' COSY: Rapper Chris Brown with the girls