Suprise gig at London comedy club

Robin Williams returned to the London stage for the first time in 25 years on Saturday night – performing a surprise stand-up set in front of just 100 comedy club punters.

The comedian performed his routine at the The Chuckle Club in the London School of Economics, as a warm-up for his sell-out West End gigs at the Gielgud Theatre in aid of The Princes Trust later this week.

Host Paul Jay, who uses the stage name Eugene Cheese, said: ‘It was the thrill of my life to have Robin Williams.

‘It's fair to say it was my lifetime ambition to have Robin Williams. I thought it was never going to happen... and now it has.’

Williams’s routine mocked outgoing President Bush with the star declaring, ‘It'll be nice to have a President who can actually spell.’ He also joked that Jack Nicholson would make a good President as ‘there could never be a scandal with Jack because he's slept with everyone'.

Williams said: ‘This is a great club. It's like a classroom with comedy in it.’

Audience member Peter Bowles, 28, said: ‘We knew there were rumours that a big name act was coming on, but to be honest I thought is might be someone like Jonathan Ross - after all he's got a bit of time on his hands at the moment.

‘I just couldn't believe it when Robin Williams walked on. He's always been a comedy idol of mine and to see him at such close range was something special.’

Published: 9 Nov 2008