Leaving his lipstick and high heels at home, he performed in a tailcoat and jeans, looking a little haggard as he struggled with a cough throughout the evening.

He was also plagued by flies on stage, which apparently pestered Michael McIntyre there last week... time for the Arena staff to check what's going on underneath that platform!

Taking the theme of "the history of everything" Izzard delivered his familiar stream-of-consciousness routine, imagining some of the quirky moments of human history such as when the first man used a stone instead of trying to slap a bison to death.

Speculating on God and the meaning to life, the show had the feel of a late night student conversation – just much funnier.

Izzard touched on some familiar themes from previous routines he leapt around the stage acting out a Roman messenger trying to use the correct grammar as he warned of Hannibal's impending invasion, and speculated on the problems of early warfare techniques.

Other questions he pondered included whether dinosaurs ever showed mercy, if giraffes use charades because the only sound they can make is a cough, and what would a jazz-playing chicken sound like?

The audience had a chance to add to the entertainment with a live Twitter feed relayed on the screens before the show and during the interval.

One said "I think I'm sitting next to Mrs Badcrumble" – I hope he didn't mean me!