Comedy line-ups often change a little, but last night's fundraiser for the World Society for the Protection of Animals nearly had to rip up its posters when Russell Brand, Noel Fielding and Mark Thomas pulled out due to a mix of illness and work commitments.

Luckily Ricky Gervais, the man most fans had come to see, was present and as entertainingly politically incorrect as ever, otherwise the fur might really have flown. Synthetic, of course.

There has been a long-awaited backlash against Gervais recently and it is easy to see why. Ambling onstage to close the first half he was typically smug.

As he joked about his ever-growing BAFTA collection, his Hampstead mansion and his charity work, it became increasingly hard to see where ironic fakery finished and the real alpha male chest-thumping began.

Maybe all that Hollywood adulation has finally got to him.

Fortunately a swollen head has not stopped him being funny, even about subjects as uncomfortable as cancer - he said he has raised so much money that if he is ever ill he should get the best hospital bed immediately.

Other routines poked fun at autism, ME and obesity. The last riff was particularly ironic, as the fattest thing displayed last night was Gervais's ego.

To his credit, however, the Extras star was the only performer who did some topical Jade Goody material.

After a particularly off-colour aside he pulled back, nonchalantly adding: "I don't want to lose my perfume contract."

Chris Addison, from BBC satire The Thick Of It, created a glorious image of Masai warriors bouncing up and down while doing Sudoku on the bus.

Phill Jupitus staked his claim as a latterday Betjeman with his subtly lustful poem I Go to Waitrose for The Mums.

Lucy Porter was neatly in tune with the charity: "I'm single and in my thirties, so most of my friends are cats."

The second half offered blue chip standup from Simon Amstell, who acerbically noted that Wheelchair Barbie is the only one with bendy legs.

Howard Read delivered a rude song about a lady shopkeeper who offered boys more than gobstoppers.

Justin Edwards as boozy children's entertainer Jeremy Lion was on brilliant grandstanding form.

By contrast Milton Jones followed with deft, minimalist gags: "Granddad died when grandma rubbed lard over his back. He went downhill fast after that."

The evening closed with Tim Minchin, whose witty musical ditties about the Middle East, inflatable women and reusing supermarket bags left one wanting more.

If only the original cast had turned up, this great show could have been even better. Three stars for Gervais's pomposity, four stars for the gig, five stars for compere Robin Ince for rounding up those 11th-hour substitutes.