Rowan Atkinson

My Comedy Hero: Milton Jones on Rowan Atkinson

Growing up I was inspired by people in sitcoms such as Ronnie Barker and Leonard Rossiter. But, the hero I'd pick would be Rowan Atkinson. I became aware of him when he used to do sketches on Not the Nine O'Clock News and it was clear that he was the star. Although he was doing different characters there was always a Rowan Atkinson angle on them and his was the line that the audience waited for. And as with all great people, even if his line wasn't always the punchline, he managed to make each one funny. He has very good verbal and physical timing and it's rare for that to come together.

A naïve vicar (Rowan Atkinson) is blissfully unaware that his wife (Kristin Scott Thomas) is falling for her golf instructor (Patrick Swayze) and that his children are up to no good. Fortunately a housekeeper (Maggie Smith) arrives to spring-clean the family in her own special way. Fun British comedy.

Sick Atkinson Delays Filming

Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson has been forced to postpone filming on his new movie after falling sick.

Rowan Atkinson shoots scenes for Johnny English Reborn

Rowan Atkinson took his life in his hands as he shot scenes for Johnny English Reborn in London.

Rowan Atkinson defends plans to build new home

Rowan Atkinson has won his battle to transform his home in a charming seventh century village into what has been derided as a 'space-age petrol station'.

Mr Bean's futuristic £5m pad a 'waste of space'

Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson has upset locals by unveiling plans to demolish his country mansion and replace it with a £5million space age pad.

Blackadder's codpiece for sale

Blackadder fans all over the world are clamouring to get their hands on Rowan Atkinson's iconic codpiece.

Universal confirms 'Johnny English 2'

Despite seriously mixed reviews, the international success of the first film ($161 million around the globe) means that we've got another outing for Rowan Atkinson's bumbling spy hero headed our way.

Mark Gatiss hails vinyl influence

Mark Gatiss has revealed that he was influenced to become a comedy writer and performer by the Monty Python team and Rowan Atkinson.

BBC2 continues its pattern of making a new documentary as an excuse for airing repeats, although why they're only running one classic episode of Not The Nine O'Clock News is a puzzle. Surely a show of its calibre deserves more?

But at least the tribute show actually has the original cast in it and not just a series of C-list talking heads that werent actually alive when the show was made. Stars Rowan Atkinson, Mel Smith, Griff Rhys Jones and Pamela Stephenson talk about the series that helped turn them into household names, as does producer John Lloyd.

Youd think the guy in charge would have kept his team in check but not John. Mel, Griff and I were the naughty boys, he recalls. Wed always go to the pub at lunch and Rowan would work on his scripts. Poor Rowan, the nerdy student who did his work while his mates got hammered. But at least it paved the way for him to turn into TVs ultimate dork, Mr Bean.