Rowan Atkinson bids adieu to Mr Bean

He is Rowan Atkinson's most commercially successful creation.

However, Mr Bean is unlikely to appear on our screens again in any new adventures. Atkinson (56) says he believes he is too old to play the bumbling character.

Mr Bean first blundered on to television in an ITV series which ran for five years from 1990.


Rowan Atkinson has said he will no longer play the role
of Mr Bean as he finds himself too old to play the role

Despite the derision of some critics, the programme proved a huge ratings success, with viewing figures of more than 18 million.

The character proved such a draw even in the notoriously difficult US market that two films were made of his exploits, Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie in 1997 and Mr Bean's Holiday four years ago.

However, Atkinson who describes Mr Bean as 'a child in a grown man's body' said, "I've got a feeling I probably won't play the character [Mr Bean] again.

Never say never, but I just feel I'm getting too old for it. I've always liked Mr Bean as a cartoon-like figure, who doesn't really age much."

He added, "I've always seen him as an ageless and timeless being and I'm clearly not ageless and timeless. The older I get, I feel I am less qualified to play him."

The comedian was interviewed in Australia to publicise the sequel to the spoof movie Johnny English ufffd Johnny English Reborn.