Mr Bean star Atkinson honoured

Rowan Atkinson has been awarded a CBE by the Queen for a career making the nation laugh.

The Mr Bean star was presented with the honour during a Buckingham Palace investiture ceremony.

Rowan, who has a passion for fast cars, declined to speak to the waiting press after the presentation.

He first found fame as part of the satirical series Not The Nine O’Clock News, and later his lead role in the long-running Blackadder series made him a household name.

But another of his creations – the bumbling Mr Bean – created an international star out of the performer.

The show, which is largely silent and shows off Rowan’s skills as an old-fashioned physical comic, has been a massive worldwide hit and inspired films and a cartoon version.

His appearance, in character playing a piano, during the Olympic opening ceremony was a tribute to his popularity around the world.

Rowan, who is married with two children, grew up in the North East and went to Newcastle University before going on to Oxford where he met Richard Curtis with whom he worked on Blackadder and Mr Bean.

Mr Bean star Atkinson honoured