Rowan Atkinson Says His Most Famous Characters Are “Quite Psychopathic” In The Graham Norton Show

Rowan Atkinson, the actor known globally for his silent comedy, offered a surprising and honest take on his own work. Appearing on The Graham Norton Show on BBC One, Atkinson described many of his most beloved characters as selfish, vain, and even “quite psychopathic,” drawing a clear line between them and his newer, more sympathetic role.

Atkinson was on the show to talk about his return as Trevor Bingley in the new Netflix series Man Vs Baby, a follow-up to 2022’s Man Vs Bee. The conversation turned to how this character differs from the icons he has played for decades. He did not hold back in his assessment, providing fans with a rare glimpse into how he views his own legendary comedy creations.

The “Catalogue of People You Wouldn’t Want to Have Dinner With”

Sitting on Graham Norton’s famous red sofa, Atkinson compared his characters directly. He explained that his latest character, Trevor Bingley, is a notable exception to his usual roster.

“I feel sorry for him. He’s not so psychopathic as he was in Bee and is a genuinely sweet man, which is rare in the characters I have played,” Atkinson said of Bingley.

He then listed his classic roles, one by one:

• Mr. Bean: Atkinson called him a “selfish, self-centred anarchic child” who is “quite charmless.” He looks after only himself.
• Edmund Blackadder: He described the historical schemer as “humorous but sarcastic, sardonic, and negative”.
• Johnny English: The bumbling spy was summed up as “vain and doesn’t care about anyone else”.

“So, I think Trevor is a pleasant contrast to this catalogue of people you wouldn’t want to have dinner with,” Atkinson concluded, to laughs from the studio audience.

How He Kept Mr. Bean a Secret in Italy

In another revealing story, Atkinson shared how he managed to enjoy anonymous holidays in Italy during the height of Mr. Bean’s global fame in the 1990s. In the era before the internet, he saw a simple solution.

“Back in the 90s, pre-internet, when TV programmes were distributed around the world, I saw the opportunity to stop it being seen in Italy because I liked Italy and wanted to go there on holiday without people recognising me,” he told Norton.

The plan worked perfectly. According to records, the second episode of Mr. Bean did not air in Italy until 1997, seven years after its UK debut. Atkinson said the result was that “no one had the slightest idea who I was” while he was there.

The Actor Who Doesn’t Watch His Own Work

Adding to his reputation as a private and meticulous performer, Atkinson admitted he deliberately avoids watching his own films and shows. He said this avoidance is “by design,” though he sometimes encounters his work by accident.

He recalled one such moment on a plane, where he found himself watching the final series of Blackadder for the very first time.

“I had never seen it before, so I watched it and it was quite good. I was surprised how good it was,” he said.

This comment highlights the distance Atkinson maintains from his on-screen persona, a trait noted by comedy observers who describe him as a quiet perfectionist, quite different from the chaotic characters he plays.

Episode Details and Where to Watch

The episode of The Graham Norton Show featuring this interview aired on Friday, December 12, 2025, at 10:40 PM on BBC One. It is available for streaming on BBC iPlayer.

Atkinson shared the guest sofa with an all-star lineup including double Oscar-winner Emma Thompson, Hollywood star Timothée Chalamet, former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, and singer JADE, who performed live.

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