Ricky Gervais at O2 Forum Kentish Town review: Gags are shocking as ever at socially distanced gig

“I don’t try to offend, I try to make you laugh,” said Ricky Gervais. Whatever his intentions, at this socially distanced gig that sold out in seconds he did both, making the audience gasp first, then giggle.

Gervais should have been playing a residency at the Palladium this month but instead last night’s outing was a chance to spice up his show SuperNature with new material. Netflix has already snapped up his set.

Provocative gags about wokeness, mental illness, paedophile teachers, Aids and transgender issues sped past, yet it was hard to stay offended for too long when there was no malice intended. This was humour with a heavy coating of irony.

At times the joking did succumb to juvenilia. A punchline involving a Chinese accent was barely worthy of Benny Hill, although a smirk between swigs of lager suggested that he knew it.

Hopefully there will be more relatively intimate dates or, if you are really easily offended, wait for the Netflix version that might have the thornier edges knocked off.