A new documentary about Michael Jackson, set to air in the UK on Wednesday, features previously unheard audio recordings in which the pop star shares his thoughts on children, including his belief that they wanted to touch him.

The four-part series, titled Michael Jackson: The Trial, produced by London-based Wonderhood Studios, revisits the 2005 criminal trial in which Jackson was charged with and ultimately acquitted of sexually abusing a minor, Gavin Arvizo, at his Neverland Ranch in California.

In a trailer for the documentary posted on Wonderhood's website, Jackson can be heard saying, “Children want to just touch me, hug me,” and adding, “Kids end up just falling in love with my personality. Sometimes it gets me into trouble.”

Airing on Channel 4 in the UK, the documentary draws on interviews, previously unseen footage, and the newly discovered audio to explore "beyond the media circus" of Jackson's infamous 2005 trial, raising "profound questions about fame, race, and the American justice system," according to Wonderhood.

The audio is from interviews Jackson had with a rabbi, to whom he turned for "spiritual guidance," Channel 4 explained in a statement.

"In hours of recorded interviews, Jackson reveals intimate secrets," the broadcaster added. "The tapes, many of which have never been aired before, offer an unprecedented glimpse into Michael’s mindset and his difficult childhood," noting they also highlight his "fixation" with Arvizo.

Jackson, who passed away in 2009, has been the subject of multiple documentaries focusing on allegations of abuse, including Leaving Neverland, which was also shown on Channel 4 and sparked strong reactions from his family.

"Michael is not here to defend himself, otherwise these allegations would not have been made," his family stated at the time.

The release of the documentary comes shortly after the debut of the trailer for the Hollywood biopic Michael, which stars Jackson’s nephew, Jaafar, as the King of Pop. The film is set to be released in cinemas on April 24.

Jackson, who died on June 25, 2009, after being administered an overdose of the anesthetic propofol, faced numerous allegations of child sexual abuse during his life. In addition to his 2005 acquittal, he settled a $15 million court case in 1994 over allegations involving another child.