ANY one of the comedians gracing Oxford’s New Theatre could have sold out the venue in their own right.

But for many people at Childish Things 5 on Thursday, the attraction was not just Jo Brand, Sean Lock, or Patrick Kielty but the chance to raise money for East Oxford hospice Helen & Douglas House.

Compere Brand started the ball rolling with a few jokes before bringing on the first of a packed bill of star performers.

The Comedy Store Players Andy Smart, Richard Vranch and Lee Simpson treated the audience to improvised skits, while the likes of Sean Lock and Patrick Kielty both of whom made a few topical digs about MPs’ expenses, kept the audience on their toes.

The laughter was, though, tempered by sadder moments.

There was barely a dry eye in the house as Oxford a cappella group Out of the Blue performed a haunting lullaby, while one of the biggest applauses of the night was reserved for singer-songwriter Ally Craig, from Grove — who himself uses Douglas House.

In between two hilarious mime spots to Natalie Imbruglia’s Torn and Elton John’s Your Song, David Armand, performing at his third Childish Things, praised the event.

He said: “I am really so pleased I could do it this year because it is such a fantastic show to be part of and it’s a brilliant charity.”

Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who lives near Chipping Norton and is a keen supporter of Helen and Douglas House, was in the packed-out audience.

He said: “It is just fantastic, it is marvellous that all these people give up their time.”

The evening of entertainment looked to end on a melancholy note, as Out of the Blue performed a wistful version of Abba’s I Have a Dream — particularly poignant for the many audience members who had connections to the hospice.

But the mood was lifted as the group invited all the performers back on stage for a big Dancing Queen singalong.

Teacher Chris Browne, 28, from Cowley, was at the event for the first time.

He said: “It was fantastic, like a Royal Variety Show only better. I will definitely come again next year.”

Organisers will spend the next week totting up how much has been raised, including bar and ice cream sales, a raffle, and donations of pay from several of the theatre staff, but confirmed yesterday that it would top £35,000.