The Lebedevs and guests at Raisa Gorbachev charity event

Permatanned masters of the universe, unite! Dashing fashionistas Evgeny Lebedev, whose day job is senior executive director of his father Alexander's London Evening Standard, velcroes himself to Richard Carling, owner of Annabel's and Caprice Holdings and worth $350m. Not quite as much as Lebedev Sr Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty

Kicking back and relaxing with a fine collection of glassware is Mikhail Gorbachev, the former Soviet leader who Margaret Thatcher said was a 'man we could do business with'. He is chatting with his great friend, the former KGB spy and Evening Standard owner Alexander Lebedev – the man who Daily Mail and General Trust chairman Lord Rothermere did do business with Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty

Evening Standard editor Geordie Greig, prime minister's wife Sarah Brown, Harry Potter author JK Rowling, doctor Neil Murray - Mr JK Rowling - and Evgeny Lebedev power-hug for the cameras. Forget who's the richest – who's the tallest? Photograph: Dave M Benett/Getty

Anastasia Virganskaya, Mikhail Gorbachev's granddaughter, and Evgeny Lebedev arrive at the Raisa Gorbachev Foundation fundraising dinner. Roubles are a girl's best friend Photograph: Nick Harvey/WireImage

Evgeny Lebedev hangs out with actress/model/author Sophie Dahl, a woman for whom the phrase She Stoops to Conquer was practically invented Photograph: Nick Harvey/WireImage

Mikhail Gorbachev to Evgeny Lebedev: 'No, I didn't check if the oven was still on. I'm the former president of the Soviet Union, I thought that you would check if the oven was still on' Photograph: Max Nash/AFP/Getty Images

Does this look to be the face of a man about to put £30m into the Independent? Well, does it? Photograph: Max Nash/AFP/Getty

'My dear Vanessa Redgrave, an honour to meet you. Mission Impossible is one of my favourite spy movies' Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Evgeny Lebedev and Standard editor Geordie Greig cosy up to Sabrina Guinness, an heir to the Guinness fortune – and she once dated Prince Charles Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features

Harry Potter author JK Rowling slightly freaks out as she realises she must now extricate herself from Mikhail Gobachev's King Kong-like hands. Evgeny Lebedev – we think that's him, rather than a wax replica – Anastasia and mystery guest offer no help Photograph: Richard Young/Rex Features