“Everyone’s been hit by the credit crunch,” Ruby Wax told 365 Magen David Adom supporters last Wednesday. “I have little money, which is why I’m in Manchester.”

But to the delight of MDA leaders, the dinner addressed by the comedienne raised a recession-busting £250,000-plus.

The attraction of Ms Wax — who admitted that she had never heard of the charity before being asked to speak — doubled the attendance of last year’s MDA Manchester dinner.

Regional director Richard Simon explained: “We went for an entertaining evening, which was a different concept. But it seemed to work, even in these difficult times.”

Manchester committee chair Jeremy Hart added that the appearance of Ms Wax brought in “younger people who had never supported us before”.

The proceeds will add to the £120,000 already raised for a bomb-proof ambulance station in Hadera.