Rowan Atkinson says he didn't enjoy Mr Bean character

Rowan Atkinson has spoken about playing Mr Bean. Photo: Courtesy.

Rowan Atkinson has spoken about playing his celebrated character Mr Bean, and said that he does not much enjoy playing Mr Bean and finds it "stressful and exhausting". The 65-year-old actor first debuted the childish character, accompanied by his brown teddy bear and yellow Mini, in his self-titled sitcom in January 1990 and it has been a global phenomenon, spawning films, books and an animated series. Rowan then reprised his character for a live performance as part of the London 2012 Summer Olympics opening ceremony.

Mr Bean continues to be popular 30 years later, amassing more followers on Facebook than Justin Bieber but Rowan told the Radio Times: "Mr Bean's success has never surprised me. Watching an adult behaving in a childish way without being remotely aware of his inappropriateness is fundamentally funny."