When you’re promised one of comedy’s greats has turned up as a surprise guest, it’s hard not to feel a little worried on their behalf.

We needn’t have worried. Michael McIntyre took a delighted audience and turned them into a snuffling, snorting, weeping mess of hysterical laughter.

With supreme ease, he showed us why he’s considered one of the best of his generation with his stories of moving to the country from London and hearing some of the terrifying night calls of the local wildlife, to a description of his visit to an orthotic clinic with a range of funny walks which would rival a Monty Python sketch.

McIntyre’s finale ended an already great opening night with stars such as Jo Brand, Rich Hall and Josh Widdicombe performing to raise money for The Sussex Beacon.

Relative unknowns such as Romesh Ranganathan, Elliot Steele and Suzi Ruffell held their own against such big household names and compere Adam Hills, held it all together with panache and some funny audience participation.

But it was McIntyre who blew them all into the water with his superb set and the Brighton Dome audience seemed thrilled to have received such an unexpected and glorious treat.