Hot ticket: The Secret Policeman's Ball at the Royal Albert Hall, London

Mark Monahan 04 October 2008 • 12:01am

In 1976, John Cleese scooped up the crème de la crème of the British comedy world for the pioneering Amnesty International fundraiser A Poke in the Eye (with a Sharp Stick) at Her Majesty's Theatre in London. In 1979, it was rather brilliantly re-christened The Secret Policeman's Ball. An amazing three decades later, the name has stuck and the venture is still looking in rude health. As ever, the idea is to raise funds and awareness for the charity, while having a jolly good laugh in the process.

If the last "Ball", in 2006, received mixed critical notices, this year's line-up is looking like a more satisfying blend of the familiar and the novel. On the bill are such comedy luminaries as Frank Skinner, Graham Norton and Eddie Izzard (pictured right at 2006's event). But there's also the chance to catch recent if.comedy nominee Kristen Schaal (who appeared as stalker Mel in the Flight of the Conchords telly series) and if.comedy best newcomer Sarah Millican.

Plus, for those who can't make it to the Albert Hall tonight, the show is being beamed live to 37 cinema screens across the UK, and will be broadcast on Channel 4 tomorrow.