Friends and family of Jason Wood came together for an impromptu gathering last night to celebrate his life, as the comedy circuit reels from the shock of his death on Saturday.

The location was the Corner Store in Covent Garden, home of the Funny Side, where Jason was a regular headliner and where London is Funny last saw him perform a matter of weeks ago. That night saw Wood put in a typical set – instinctively entertaining, big on laughs, big on charm, brazen in his audience interaction and, for those who had not witnessed his musical impressions before, actually quite startling.

Fellow comic and friend Cole Parker organised the gathering that brought out many big names from the comedy industry. Among those present were Tom Wrigglesworth, Mark Felgate, Ninia Benjamin, Janey Godley, Bennett Arron, Jongleurs founder Maria Kempinska, Comedy Cafe owner Noel Faulkner, Brian Higgins, Michael Legge, Pippa Evans and John Ryan, as well as Wood's sister Lisa and nephew David.

Brian Higgins – one of Wood's closest friends from the circuit – put together a musical slideshow of images of Jason, and Wood's agents, Chambers Management, donated a showreel that included never-seen-before footage of Wood. In what was understandably a night of high emotion, many comics including Ninia Benjamin and John Ryan stood to speak about their memories of Wood.

Here are some of the tributes that were paid to Wood last night:

Cole Parker: "Jason knew his act was unashamedly old-fashioned, vaudeville, going into people's handbags, making jokes up on the spot – but it was all done in such a freindly, affable way, it was never aggressive or malicious. He had such perfect cheeky charm you [as an MC] always felt completely confident in his hands.

"And then when he sang of course ... I've seen rooms of hardened blokes, all stag dos, squaddies, standing up and giving him a standing ovation after doing an Erasure routine! Jason was the best antidote to homophobia you'll ever see. He could charm even the most staunch homophobe camp up. He just filled your heart.

Janey Godley: "Jason had an ability to make everybody nice, which is an amazing trait. In a circuit full of anger, jealousy, bitterness and cruelty, he transcended all that. He didn't even like you bitching in front of him – I loved that about him. He had a good word for everybody. I could name 70 people who don't like me but no one didn't like Jason.

"I was on the phone to my husband when I saw the news – my husband said, what's wrong, but I couldn't even say the words. I couldn't believe it, I thought it must be a publicity stunt, I spoke to him only 12 hours previously and he was completely fine. I'll miss him a lot, no one else could replicate the electric stage presence he had."

Wood died in his sleep last weekend in his home town of Luton. Comedians were quick to pay tribute to the 38-year-old. Flight Of The Conchords star Rhys Darby posted on Twitter: "Your wonderful humour and stunning voice will echo in the halls of hilarity for ever on ... You were one of the good ones." Jim Jeffries added: "Just cried about the passing of Jason Wood, such a great guy. I will really miss him."

A toxicology test on Wood gave clear results, and the results of an autopsy are expected today, although Wood had spoken of a history of Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome in his family, which is understood to have caused the death of his uncle aged 38 and another relative at just 21.

A regular headliner on the London comedy circuit at clubs such as The Funny Side of Covent Garden and the Wam Bam Club, Wood was best known for his impressions of stars including Cher, Pavarotti and Morrissey. He was due in March to begin recording an album of self-penned material. Elsewhere, he performed across the world and was due to represent Britain at a two-month comedy festival in Sun City, South Africa, in the summer.

Wood was perhaps best known for appearing in the first series of Strictly Come Dancing – and being the first person to be voted off alongside Natasha Kaplinsky.

Click here for a Jason Wood obituary by the Evening Standard's Bruce Dessau.