Ricky Gervais is familiar to many as David Brent, the inept and embarrassing manager of BBC Two's sitcom, The Office.

But before a second series of the hit sitcom arrives on our screens this autumn, Gervais takes to the live stage with a stand-up show at London's Soho theatre.

The show is based around a comic lecture on the animal kingdom.

"Throughout the hour-long show, Gervais continually baits his audience with misanthropic, homophobic and blasphemous remarks, provoking gasps of appalled laughter," says the BBC's Neil Smith.

But what did you think? Is he amusing beyond The Office? What was the best part of the set?

BBC News Online users sent in their views.

I saw it on the first night and I don't think I ever stopped laughing all the way through.

Ricky's a natural comedian. He can weedle out humour from just about anything and he dares to say things few would get away with.

The best bit was the section of internet-sourced animal facts like cows not being able to go downstairs and how he spun out hilarious senarios based on them.

He could have been doing stand-up for years.
Steve, UK

This is the abrasive comic persona that put Ricky Gervais on the map in the first place. Like The Office, if you're in on the joke, you should find it hilarious. What's wrong with ruffling a few feathers anyway? Scratch a liberal and you've angered a fascist...
Steve, UK, London

Whilst in satire Ricky shines, he is equally capable as a stand-up.

Much of his comic genius comes down to the fact his jokes hit the mark so quickly you don't realise just how deliciously sardonic, or just plain openly controversial it is until a few moments later when, after the initial shock, you find yourself laughing uncontrollably.

Absolutely brilliant.
Darren Coleman, UK