British actor, comedian and writer Rowan Atkinson, who created and played the iconic role of Mr Bean, has stated that according to him the character was a "self-centred, narcissistic anarchist."
As per Deadline, Atkinson's depiction of the modern-day Charlie Chaplin has amassed more than 11 billion views on YouTube alone. He told a news outlet that the silent, self-sabotaging master of chaos was also, more generously, perhaps, "a nine-year-old trapped in a man's body." Though n the early 1990s, the character of Mr Bean was watched on British TV for only five years, it has continued to be seen across the world, with the series being sold to 245 countries and inspiring two feature-length films.
Atkinson, who is famously a lot more serious in person than the characters he creates on screen, accepted the popular appeal of Mr Bean, however, telling, "A lot of people didn't like the inevitable and justifiable feeling that things were going to go wrong."
Atkinson seems to have more rounded regard for Trevor, his latest character from the upcoming Netflix series 'Man Vs Bee', which will premiere on June 24.
Atkinson says of his new character, in comparison to Mr Bean, "Trevor is different. He is a much nicer and much sweeter and more normal person, I hope -- and that was certainly our aim...he seems like a sweet, well-intentioned, perfectly intelligent man, but, of course, he's got fault lines, his weak spots, and his weak spot is his obsessiveness."
The British star has previously showcased his comedic capabilities through TV shows like 'Not the Nine o'Clock News' and 'Blackadder' and on the big screen in 'Johnny English' and as the scene-stealing vicar in 'Four Weddings and a Funeral'.
HOME SECRETARY Shabana Mahmood has warned that Britain’s failure to control illegal migration is undermining public confidence and weakening faith in government.
Speaking at a summit in London with home ministers from the Western Balkans, Mahmood said border failures were “eroding trust not just in us as political leaders, but in the credibility of the state itself”.
Her comments come as migrant Channel crossings have risen by 30 per cent this year, with 35,500 people making the journey so far. Across Europe, almost 22,000 migrants were smuggled through the Western Balkans in 2024.
Mahmood said only coordinated international action could end the crisis, warning against calls to pull Britain out of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) — a move backed by Reform UK and some Conservatives, reported the Telegraph.
“To those who think the answer is to turn inwards or walk away from international cooperation, I say we are stronger together,” she told delegates. “The public rightly expect their government to decide who enters and who must leave.”
Mahmood pointed to new Labour measures, including a deal with France based on a “one in, one out” system, an agreement with Germany to seize smugglers’ boats, and a pact with Iraq to improve border security. Britain has also regained access to key EU intelligence systems.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, dismissed her comments as “meaningless while the pull factors to the UK remain”.
Mahmood’s speech follows a tightening of immigration rules announced this week. From January, foreign workers will need to pass an A-level standard English test to qualify for skilled visas — a step up from the current GCSE level.
Employers will also face a 32 per cent rise in the immigration skills charge, while international graduates will see their post-study work rights cut from two years to 18 months.
The measures are aimed at bringing down net migration, which currently stands at 431,000 after peaking at 906,000 in 2023.
Mahmood has also revised modern slavery rules to stop migrants exploiting loopholes to avoid deportation and authorised the first charter flights returning small boat migrants to France. So far, 26 people have been returned, with plans to increase removals in the coming months.
Her tougher stance comes amid criticism from the opposition. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp accused the government of “losing control of our borders”, saying record Channel crossings showed that Labour’s policies were failing to deter illegal migration.
He added: “The Conservatives would leave the ECHR, allowing us to remove illegal immigrants within a week. That’s how you stop the boats.”
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