No, not a misprinted benefit for Boy George as Rory Bremner suggested. This fundraiser for human rights charity Reprieve offered some top stand-ups one last chance to air their George Bush material.

The Bush-whacking was not actually non-stop, which was a relief, because we’ve surely heard every gaffe-inspired gag. Instead this was an impressive display of wide-ranging wit. Andrew Maxwell, Marcus Brigstocke, Shappi Khorsandi, Paul Sinha and compere Alistair Barrie offered quickfire value, while Kevin Eldon as over-earnest poet Paul Hamilton nearly stole the show. American Dave Fulton did not need satire — relocating to England spoke volumes.

Bremner seemed nervy but packed plenty into his fast-talking spot. His canniest notion was his Frost/Nixon sequel — Ross/Bush, which virtually wrote itself. Political prankster Mark Thomas was on bouncy form, nostalgically recalling the time when he jokingly put a bounty on Dubya’s head. A night of big laughs, although musical comedian Mitch Benn added a solemn note, reminding everyone that the outgoing President did much that was not funny. Obama might currently seem joke-proof but anxious lampooners should relax. This critic is old enough to remember when Blair seemed joke-proof, too.