A much-loved British actor performed a stand-up comedy show in a small Cambridgeshire village last night – however, many in the audience who had shelled out £20 per ticket said they were left disappointed.

Joe Thomas, who played the role of Simon in The Inbetweeners and also starred in Fresh Meat, performed at Doddington Village Hall as part of a comedy event hosted by local promoters Chuckl.

He was initially billed as the headline act to take the stage, however comedian Harriet Kemsley - who regularly appears on Channel 4 panel show ‘8 Out of 10 Cats - was the last to take to the stage.

A mother and daughter who attended said: “The last event that Chuckl put on was really good, and it’s great that they put events on in the village, but Joe Thomas should really have been able to pull it off, which he really didn’t.

She added that the other two comedians were “really good, including Harriet, who was the best.

“But Joe just waffled on and didn’t know what he was doing," she said. 

She added that “he hardly cracked any jokes. It was awful to be honest. Absolutely dreadful.”

Another attendee said: “Don’t get me wrong, it was a good evening And it’s Doddington not the Apollo.

“But I guess there’s a reason why Joe Thomas isn’t on panel shows.

“He wasn’t as good as I had hoped. It was a bit disappointing.”

Another ticket-holder described his set was “a bit cringe-y”.

Another audience member added: “I know a couple of people who left before it finished.“