Rowan Atkinson

Rowan Atkinson suffers head-on crash at Goodwood

It was a crash worthy of poor Mr. Bean himself, as Rowan Atkinson collided with a fellow racer at the Goodwood Revival on Saturday.

The comedian, 59, was driving his powder blue Ford Falcon Sprint in the Shelby Cup when a fellow competitor, two cars ahead, lost control, spinning off the track.

As the following driver swerved to avoid the impact, Atkinson had no chance to heave his lumbering Falcon around the stricken car, instead hitting it head on, causing sufficient damage to bring a premature end to his race.

Radio Times review

Rowan Atkinson returns as the spy oblivious to his own incompetence in this lively sequel, which sees him lured out of retirement by his former bosses at MI7 to hunt down an international group of assassins plotting to kill the Chinese premier. Armed with the most hi-tech gadgets the world of espionage has to offer, English sets off across the globe to bring the bad guys to book, unaware that the real threat may be closer to home. Atkinson is great value as the idiot sleuth, although some of director Oliver Parker's stunts and set pieces would be more suited to the slapstick antics of Mr Bean. Straight-faced support from Gillian Anderson and Dominic West as fellow MI7 operatives adds to the fun, but it's clearly Atkinson's show from start to finish.

Rowan Atkinson pictured with new love

Rowan Atkinson has split from his wife of 23 years. The 59-year-old Mr Bean and Blackadder star is now in a relationship with a young comedy actress.

Having enjoyed what Stephen Fry described as a "full life", Mel Smith died in July aged just 60. At this time of year, it's probably his Rockin' around the Christmas Tree duet that comes to mind first, but the clowning about was part of a rich career that shaped British comedy but also took in straight acting and directing, TV production and a modicum of high living.

Rowan Atkinson remembers a "wonderful sort of peace" in performing alongside him, and John Lloyd credits Smith with developing the naturalistic style that characterises modern alternative comedy. Lloyd and Atkinson are joined by Richard Curtis and, of course, his sketch partner Griff Rhys Jones to commemorate Mel Smith's contribution to both comedy and life in general. Home video and lots of classic sketches (which really do stand the test of time) tell the story of a beloved comic personality.

Comic Relief sketch prompts most complains in 2013

A Comic Relief sketch in which Rowan Atkinson played a fictional archbishop of Canterbury and compared One Direction to Jesus's disciples has attracted more complaints to the media regulator than any other TV broadcast of 2013.

Rowan Atkinson's Comic Relief sketch cleared by Ofcom

The Rowan Atkinson skit, in which he played a fictional clergyman who said praying doesn't work, did not breach broadcasting code.