The annual meeting of Kent County Council to elect a new chairman isn't meant to invoke a sense of comedy.

But that hasn't prevented it from being likened to one of the best-known scenes in Channel 4's hit sitcom The Inbetweeners.

Dozens of councillors were set up on individual desks at Mote Park Leisure Centre in Maidstone yesterday.

This morning, South Thanet MP Craig Mackinlay has taken to Twitter to compare the exam-like KCC meeting to a scene from the cult E4 show.

"Glad a sense of ‘normality’ returns to @Kent_cc but can’t help but being reminded of one of the more comical clips from #Inbetweeners," Mr Mackinlay wrote.

He is alluding to the final episode of series two, where lead character Will McKenzie is spectacularly caught short in the exam hall after consuming too many energy drinks.

County councillor Rob Thomas even tweeted that the sports hall was where he had taken his accounting exams.

The necessity of the large-scale meeting has been questioned by critics who say the virtual meetings of the past year should be continued post-pandemic.

Newly-elected county councillor Neil Baker said on Twitter: "Removing virtual meetings with distancing rules, etc, in place was a ridiculous move by the government.

"Option to meet remotely/part-remotely needs to made permanent through legislation. More efficient, accessible and environmentally sensible."

Yesterday's meeting was the first in-person session KCC has hosted since 2020.

Ann Allen was elected as the new chairman of KCC, taking over from Graham Gibbens.

The vice-chairman will be Lesley Game, first elected to KCC in 2017 for Cliftonville.

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