Capturing The Zeitgeist: Gervais flipped over the usual comedian's career path by becoming a fully-fledged stand-up after hitting the big time on telly.

Animals' rock-star-sized gigs finally brought Gervais' brittle persona to the wider audience he craved, and was followed by equally successful shows Politics, Fame and Science.

The Ironic Smirk: Visible even from the back of the auditorium, as an unfettered Gervais rattled the sabre for his subversive brand of post-politically correct humour.