The Sumatran Orangutan Society does not monkey about when it comes to organising star-studded benefits. Last night’s event highlighting the plight of these endangered apes attracted an impressive bill. Not only the impressive Bill Bailey but a formidable supporting cast, too.

Proceedings, smoothly compered by Simon Munnery, had an animal-flavoured theme. Ventriloquist Nina Conti opened with her mischievous chimp Monk and a neat line in voice‑throwing deconstruction.

Bollo, The Mighty Boosh’s gorilla played by Dave Brown, delivered a Comic Relief-style mock-sincere appeal for his Orangutan neighbour Alan. All they needed was the drumming ape from the Cadbury ad for a full set.

After some effective satirical snippets from Alistair Barrie, it was time for Tim Minchin. The Australian songwriter’s briliantly witty ditties about love, recycling and being ginger confirmed that he is not just the Noël Coward of naughty wordplay but also a potent sex symbol. He was the only act who had to perform amid amorous proposals from the stalls.

The second half maintained the high standard. Jason Manford made little reference to the cause but his easy-on-the-ears observational bonhomie worked very well. The amiable Mancunian is clearly no mere Peter Kay-lite, even if his nostalgic banter about dads having the ability to fix plugs with butter knives gave that impression.

For a finale Bill Bailey, resembling the missing link between Motörhead’s Lemmy and Jungle Book’s King Louie, closed with a greatest hits set plus topical asides about MPs’ expenses for their “chinchilla Taj Mahals”.

Keyboard highlights included his always funny sinister door chimes and Lionel Richie medley (heard about the butchers called Halal, Is It Meat You’re Looking For?) before the king of the swingers was joined by Bollo for a rendition of I’m A Believer. The audience went suitably bananas.