London:
The bumbling but adorable Mr Bean is planning to hang up his boots. British actor Rowan Atkinson, who popularised the character, says he believes he is too old to play the funnyman anymore.
Mr Bean first appeared on television in an ITV series which ran for five years from 1990. Despite the derision of some critics, the programme proved a huge ratings success, with viewing figures of more than 18 million, the Daily Mail reported.
The character even made its foray into movies with Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie in 1997 and Mr Bean's Holiday four years ago.
The 56-year-old actor last played the character in the Holiday. Atkinson, who describes Mr Bean as "a child in a grown man's body", says, "I've got a feeling I probably won't play the character [Mr Bean] again. Never say never, but I just feel I'm getting too old for it. I've always liked Mr Bean as a cartoon-like figure, who doesn't really age much. I've always seen him as an ageless and timeless being and I'm clearly not ageless and timeless. The older I get, I feel I am less qualified to play him."
Mr Bean first appeared on television in an ITV series which ran for five years from 1990. Despite the derision of some critics, the programme proved a huge ratings success, with viewing figures of more than 18 million, the Daily Mail reported.
The character even made its foray into movies with Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie in 1997 and Mr Bean's Holiday four years ago.
The 56-year-old actor last played the character in the Holiday. Atkinson, who describes Mr Bean as "a child in a grown man's body", says, "I've got a feeling I probably won't play the character [Mr Bean] again. Never say never, but I just feel I'm getting too old for it. I've always liked Mr Bean as a cartoon-like figure, who doesn't really age much. I've always seen him as an ageless and timeless being and I'm clearly not ageless and timeless. The older I get, I feel I am less qualified to play him."
