Comedy megastar Ricky Gervais helps save abandoned dogs with cake

It was a busy day for dog rescue charity All Dogs Matter on Sunday.

After hosting the first-ever dog show at a rain-hit Hampstead Christmas Festival, its staff and volunteers must surely have been relieved to decamp for the evening to the drier setting of Burgh House, in New End Square, Hampstead.

The charity was hosting a gala fundraiser including jazz music, a Christmas carol sing-a-long – Twelve Days of Christmas became Twelve Dogs of Christmas – and poetry readings from actors Peter Egan, a patron of the charity and animal welfare stalwart, and actress Lorraine Chase.

They were also joined by none other than comedy megastar and animal lover Ricky Gervais, who donated a bulldog-shaped cake for the evening’s auction before taking his place in the audience.

Not content with one sponge-based act of generosity, the Hampstead resident successfully bid for a second cake which was also up for auction, before re-donating it straight back to the charity.

All Dogs Matter, based in Aylmer Road, Highgate, raised nearly £3,000 from the auction for its work saving the lives of abandoned dogs.

The lots weren’t actually all cake – though there was a third – and included Arsenal tickets, a Ted Baker satchel and dinners at Hampstead spots including The Spaniards Inn.

Founder Ira Moss said: “It was amazing, we had a full house and raised nearly £3,000 and lots of awareness.”