Here’s something a little bit different. Mr Bean, the TV comedy character played by Rowan Atkinson, is to drive around the Goodwood Motor Circuit in character as Mr Bean each day as part of a huge parade of Minis to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Mini at the Goodwood Revival classic car event later this month. Apparently, it’s the first time ever that Mr Bean has appeared in public (ie Atkinson in character as the blithering but lovable near-mute idiot who unwittingly gets into absurd scrapes).

Mr Bean will be driving his distinctive pea green and black Mini sitting in an armchair attached to the roof of the car, using a mop and string to operate the pedals and steering.

Atkinson will recreate the scene from the Mr Bean television series when the character bought various items in a department store sale, including a large arm chair, and then realised that it would not fit in his diminutive Mini, leading to him strapping the chair to the car roof and driving it home from his lofty perch. Atkinson will also compete in an original 1965 Austin Mini Cooper S in an all-Mini St Mary’s Trophy saloon car race at the Revival, plus demonstrate his Jaguar Mk VI as part of the 80th birthday tribute to Sir Stirling Moss.

Go Bean!

Goodwood