The 340 guests at the Magen David Adom UK annual dinner heard from Fabio Capello, Roberto Mancini, Arsene Wenger, Jackie Mason, Woody Allen and William Hague - courtesy of one man.
Impressionist Alistair McGowan was the star turn at the Millennium Mayfair function which raised £1.4 million, far outstripping last year's proceeds.
But the comedian was totally serious when praising the work of MDA, which is largely staffed by volunteers. "It's wonderful what they do and wonderful to hear of people who help with no thought of whose side they are on," he said. "These are people who run towards a bomb to help - it's really amazing."
The key dinner announcement was that UK MDA funding would go to Holocaust survivors in Israel needing emergency medical care.
