Happy Birthday Mr Bean

Ever since Mr Bean first landed on our screens from another planet 30 years ago, he has entranced the world. With his science-defying limbs and comic-strip solutions to daily dilemmas, the brown-suited buffoon became a TV, film and animated star, his elastic reach easily crossing language barriers.

In this birthday celebration, the famously retiring actor Rowan Atkinson, co-creator Richard Curtis and other collaborators shed light on the success of the character and the original show – only 14 episodes were ever made. And Sunday is quite the Beanfeast on ITV, with the 1997 film at 3.50pm and two episodes at 6.55pm and 7.25pm. Just don’t give him a turkey to stuff.