Oasis Noel aids charity

Funny guy: Noel Gallagher performed at Aids benefit

Oasis songwriter Noel Gallagher made his comedy debut on Saturday with spoof chat show host Alan Partridge to raise money for Aids charities.

The pair featured in the fund-raising spectacular Live From The Lighthouse, shown live on Channel 4.

Steve Coogan: Also appeared in the West End

Gallagher is well-known as a fan of Steve Coogan, who plays Alan Partridge, and attended the premiere of his West End show The Man Who Thinks He's It.

But his credentials as a supporter of Aids awareness are not so clear-cut.

At the height of Oasis' rivalry with Blur in 1995 he caused outrage by telling an interviewer he wished the group's singer Damon Albarn would die from the disease.

The show was broadcast from the London Lighthouse, a centre for people with Aids. It raised money for The Hysteria trust, which will distribute it to Aids and HIV charities.

Coogan dashed across London to appear on the show after performing in The Man Who Thinks He's It before going on stage with Gallagher.

Other performers included All Saints, who appeared as a three-piece following the birth of Melanie Blatt's daughter Ella last week.