Editing Mr. Bean (section)

== Characters and recurring props ==
=== Mr. Bean ===
{{Main|Mr. Bean (character)}}
[[File: Atkinson Rowan.jpg|thumb|left|220px|[[Rowan Atkinson]] portraying Mr. Bean in August 1997]]
The title character and protagonist, played by Rowan Atkinson, is a childish [[Jester#Buffoon|buffoon]] who brings various unusual schemes and contrivances to everyday tasks. He lives alone at the address of Flat 2, 12 Arbour Road, [[Highbury]], and is almost always seen in his trademark [[Tweed (cloth)|tweed]] jacket and a skinny red tie. He also usually wears a digital [[calculator watch]]. Mr. Bean rarely speaks, and when he does, it is generally only a few mumbled words which are in a comically low-pitched voice. His first name (he names himself "Bean" to others) and profession, if any, are never mentioned. In the [[Bean (film)|first film adaptation]], "Mr." appears on his passport in the "first name" field and he is shown employed as a guard at London's [[National Gallery, London|National Gallery]].<ref>Mel Smith, ''Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie'', PolyGram Filmed Entertainment, 1997</ref>

Mr. Bean often seems unaware of basic aspects of the way the world works, and the programme usually features his attempts at what would normally be considered simple activities, such as going swimming, using a television set, [[interior decorating]] or going to church. The humour largely comes from his original (and often absurd) solutions to problems and his total disregard for others when solving them, and his pettiness and occasional malevolence.

In the title sequence of [[The Return of Mr. Bean|episode two]], Mr. Bean falls from the sky in a beam of light accompanied by a choir singing ''Ecce homo qui est faba'' ("Behold the man who is a bean") which was sung by the [[Southwark Cathedral]] choir in 1990. The opening sequence was initially in [[black and white]] in episodes two and [[The Curse of Mr. Bean|three]], which was intended by the producers to show his status as an "ordinary man cast into the spotlight". However, later episodes showed Mr. Bean dropping from the night sky in a deserted London street against the backdrop of [[St. Paul's Cathedral]]. At the end of episodes three and [[Mr. Bean Rides Again|six]], he is also shown being sucked right back up into the sky in the respective background scenes (the black scene in episode 3 and street scene in episode 6). Regarding the opening credits, Atkinson has acknowledged that Bean "has a slightly [[Extraterrestrial life|alien]] aspect to him".<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20030217224736/http://www.rowanatkinson.org/articles/00062.htm "The Fine Art of Being Mr. Bean"], archive interview in ''The [[Buffalo News]]''. Retrieved 15 June 2006.</ref> In the  ''[[Mr. Bean (animated series)|Mr. Bean: The Animated Series]]'' episode "Double Trouble", the alien aspect of him was used in a storyline in which he is taken inside a spacecraft with aliens who look exactly like him and even have their own plushy toys. In an obvious homage towards the end, the aliens send him back home in a beam of light and music similar to the opening of the original ''Mr. Bean'' series. Whether Bean is an extraterrestrial is not made clear.

=== Irma Gobb ===
Mr. Bean's long-suffering girlfriend, Irma Gobb (played by [[Matilda Ziegler]]), appears in three episodes. In "[[The Curse of Mr. Bean]]" and "[[Mr. Bean Goes to Town]]", the character is simply credited as "the girlfriend". She is treated relatively inconsiderately by Bean, who appears to regard her more as a friend and companion rather than as a love interest. However, he does become jealous when she dances with another man at a disco in "Mr. Bean Goes to Town", and she certainly expects him to propose to her on Christmas Day in "[[Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean]]"; his failure to do so results in her leaving him for good. Despite this, she later reappears in ''[[Mr. Bean (animated TV series)|Mr. Bean: The Animated Series]]''. It is revealed in the book ''Mr. Bean's Diary'' that her name is Irma Gobb and she works as a librarian at the local library.<ref>Rowan Atkinson & Robin Driscoll, ''Mr. Bean's Diary'', London: Boxtree Ltd, 1993</ref>

In the Comic Relief sketch "Torvill & Bean", Bean is accompanied by a female companion portrayed by [[Sophie Thompson]] whose overall appearance resembles Gobb's.

=== Teddy ===
Teddy is Mr. Bean's [[teddy bear]] and, apparently, best friend. This little brown bear is a knitted oddity with button eyes and sausage-shaped limbs which invariably end up broken in half or in various other states of destruction and disfiguration. Although Teddy is inanimate, Mr. Bean often pretends it is alive: he always buys it a [[Christmas]] present or tries not to wake it up in the morning. For example, when Mr. Bean hypnotizes Teddy, he snaps his fingers and the bear's head falls backwards as if it had fallen asleep instantly. (Bean used his finger to prop Teddy's head up.) Teddy is often privy to Mr. Bean's various schemes and doubles as a tool or other items in emergencies; it has been decapitated ("[[Mr. Bean in Room 426]]"), used as his paint brush ("[[Do-It-Yourself Mr. Bean]]") and shrunk in the wash ("[[Tee Off, Mr. Bean]]"). Teddy is also Mr. Bean's "pet" in "[[Hair by Mr. Bean of London]]" where he is used to win a pet show.

Over the years, Teddy has undergone several changes. When it debuted on "[[The Trouble with Mr. Bean]]", it had a smaller head. Two episodes later, its head reached its current size but its "eyes" were not present until Bean placed gold [[thumb tack]]s on its face. The "eyes" have since been replaced with two small white buttons sewn over Teddy's face, giving it a distinctive image.

After filming ended, Teddy was donated by Atkinson to [[Gyles Brandreth]]'s [[Teddy bear museum]] in [[Stratford-upon-Avon]]. In 2008 upon the museum's closing, Teddy was sold at auction for £180.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7606177.stm |title=Mr Bean's toy in teddy bear sale |website=BBC News |date=9 September 2008 |access-date=12 June 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612224229/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/west_midlands/7606177.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== The Mini ===
[[File: Rowan Atkinson on a Mini at Goodwood Circuit in 2009.jpg|thumb|Rowan Atkinson re-enacting a famous scene from the episode "[[Do-It-Yourself Mr. Bean]]" on a [[Mini]] at [[Goodwood Circuit]] Revival 2009]] 
[[File: Mr Beans Mini.jpg|thumb|right|Mr. Bean's [[Mini]]]]
Mr. Bean's vehicle, a [[Citron (color)|citron-green]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-02-15/mr-bean-25-facts-and-figures-for-his-25th-anniversary/|title=Mr Bean: 25 facts and figures for his 25th anniversary|work=Radio Times|date=15 February 2015|access-date=6 February 2018|archive-date=7 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180207005603/http://www.radiotimes.com/news/2015-02-15/mr-bean-25-facts-and-figures-for-his-25th-anniversary/|url-status=live}}</ref> 1977 [[British Leyland]] [[Mini]] 1000 Mark 4<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_35822-Mini-1000-ADO20-1977.html|title=Mini 1000 in "Mr. Bean"|access-date=2 April 2018|archive-date=2 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180402163315/http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_35822-Mini-1000-ADO20-1977.html|url-status=live}}</ref> with a matte black [[Hood (vehicle)|bonnet]], was central to several antics such as Bean getting dressed in it, driving while sitting in an armchair strapped to the roof or attempting to avoid a car park fee by driving out through the entrance. In the [[Mr. Bean (Mr. Bean episode)|pilot episode]], Bean's vehicle was an orange 1969 [[British Motor Corporation|BMC]] Morris Mini 1000 Mark 2 ([[Vehicle registration plate|registration]] RNT 996H) but was destroyed in an off-screen crash at the end. Throughout the sitcom, Bean keeps it locked with a bolt-latch and [[padlock]] rather than the lock fitted to the car, which formed a [[running gag]] in several episodes; in two episodes, he demonstrated an additional and innovative security measure in that he removes the steering wheel instead of the key which in one episode deterred a car thief. In "[[Back to School Mr. Bean]]", Bean's Mini is crushed by a [[Chieftain tank|tank]] as part of a demonstration after he replaced an identical Mini (registration ACW 497V) meant for the demonstration with his own to secure a parking space. After losing it, he removes his padlock and bolt-latch from the remains. Although the Mini has been crushed, it nonetheless reappears in subsequent episodes with the same colours and registration number (SLW 287R) as the car that has been crushed.

There were three Minis painted green and black used in the series, as well as two others painted with the same colour scheme but with no engine that got crushed by the tank. One of the main cars was also crushed by the tank. During filming many parts were swapped from car to car throughout production, including bonnets, wheel trims, grilles, steering wheels, rear lights, occasionally the driver's door, and the seat covers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/336384-mr-beans-mini/|title=Mr. Bean's Mini – Mini Chat|access-date=28 July 2018|archive-date=28 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728162354/http://www.theminiforum.co.uk/forums/topic/336384-mr-beans-mini/|url-status=live}}</ref>

After filming ended, one of the original Minis was sold to Kariker Kars to be hired for various events whereupon it was temporarily displayed as a major attraction at the Rover Group's museum. In 1997, it was purchased by the [[Cars of the Stars Motor Museum]] and displayed for a number of years, later being sold on to a museum in the United States. The main Mini is privately owned and nearing the end of restoration in the south of England.

To promote ''Mr. Bean: The Animated Series'', a replica of the Mini with the registration number DRW 221T was used. This Mini is currently on display at the [[National Motor Museum, Beaulieu]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/car_collection/mr-beans-mini/ |title=National Motor Museum, Beaulieu |access-date=13 June 2018 |archive-date=13 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613184850/https://nationalmotormuseum.org.uk/car_collection/mr-beans-mini/ |url-status=live }}</ref>{{failed verification|date=June 2018|reason=This ref does not indicate that the car on display is a replica.}} The London Motor Museum also has a replica on display.

The Mini was going to appear in the [[Bean (film)|first film adaptation of the series]] under the registration C607 EUW.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1057004-Mini-1000-ADO20-1985.html|title=Mini 1000 in "Bean"|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617115808/http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_1057004-Mini-1000-ADO20-1985.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In the film, Mr. Bean drives his Mini through [[Harrods]] in order to avoid a traffic jam. Although the sequence was filmed, it was not included in the final cut.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118689/alternateversions Alternative versions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014072753/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118689/alternateversions |date=14 October 2018 }} at the [[Internet Movie Database]]. Retrieved 1 September 2010.</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/-FxdkjuUQ5Y Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20120823142026/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FxdkjuUQ5Y Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FxdkjuUQ5Y |title=Deleted scene|website=[[YouTube]]|date=12 December 2006 | access-date= 21 September 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In June 2018, the Mini from the first film was sold for US$70,000.<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.icollector.com/Rowan-Atkinson-Mr-Bean-British-Leyland-Mini-1000-from-Bean_i30075049| url-status = dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180611235904/http://www.icollector.com/Rowan-Atkinson-Mr-Bean-British-Leyland-Mini-1000-from-Bean_i30075049| archive-date = 11 June 2018| title = Rowan Atkinson "Mr. Bean" British Leyland Mini 1000 from Bean.}}</ref> The Mini had its debut on the big screen in the film ''[[Mr. Bean's Holiday]]'' under the registration YGL 572T. Unlike the previous Minis (which were Austin Citron green), it is 'Nissan Amarillo Yellow'.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_97382-Mini-1000-ADO20-1979.html|title=Mini 1000 in "Mr. Bean's Holiday"|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617115844/http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_97382-Mini-1000-ADO20-1979.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The film also features a second version of the Mini with the same colour scheme but with left-hand drive, driven by Bean's friend Sabine, and registered 207 UHD 75.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_97379-Mini-1000-ADO20-1978.html|title=Mini 1000 in "Mr. Bean's Holiday"|access-date=17 June 2018|archive-date=17 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180617115857/http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_97379-Mini-1000-ADO20-1978.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Mini reappeared in ''Mr. Bean: The Animated Series'' under the registration STE 952R. In 2015, Mr. Bean returned in a sketch for Comic Relief in which he drives his Mini to attend a funeral. This Mini bore the same registration as the one in the animated spin-off.<ref>"Funeral" sketch on official Mr. Bean YouTube channel. {{cite web| url-status = live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180514222556/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCsJKaoxr6I&app=desktop| archive-date = 14 May 2018| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCsJKaoxr6I| title = Funeral {{!}} Funny Episode {{!}} Mr Bean Official| website = [[YouTube]]| date=9 May 2018 | access-date = 13 June 2018}}</ref>

=== The Reliant ===
Since the pilot episode, Mr. Bean has had a long-running feud with the unseen driver of a three-wheeled, light-blue 1972 [[Reliant Regal|Reliant Regal Supervan III]] (registration GRA 26K), which would usually get turned over, crashed out of its parking space and so forth by Bean in his Mini, who is usually oblivious to the results. These mishaps also became a running gag throughout the series. In "[[Tee Off, Mr. Bean]]", Bean is hitchhiking and the Reliant pulls over for him but Bean, who recognizes the car, pretends to not see it until it leaves.

The Reliant reappears in ''Mr. Bean: The Animated Series'' under the registration "DUW 742", again victimized by Mr. Bean in his Mini. In the episode "Young Bean", the identity of the Reliant driver is revealed for the first time. In the episode "Car Wars", after being abused by Mr. Bean for many years, the driver becomes angry and fed up, and decides to get his revenge by chasing Mr. Bean and trying to outmaneuver him in various situations, ultimately resulting in Mr. Bean's Mini being crushed by a [[car crusher]].

=== Other characters ===
Although Mr. Bean is the only significant character in the programme, others appear usually as foils for his various antics. Other than his girlfriend Irma Gobb (Matilda Ziegler), there are more characters in each episode. However several notable British actors and comedians appear alongside Atkinson in the series as various one-off supporting characters, including [[Owen Brenman]], [[Richard Briers]], [[Roger Sloman]], [[Angus Deayton]], [[Stephen Frost]], [[Nick Hancock]], [[Christopher Ryan]], [[Paul Bown]], [[Caroline Quentin]], [[Danny La Rue]], [[Roger Brierley]], [[Roger Lloyd-Pack]], [[Rupert Vansittart]], [[David Battley]], [[David Schneider (actor)|David Schneider]], [[Richard Wilson (Scottish actor)|Richard Wilson]] and [[Rudolph Walker]]. Vansittart and Walker later appeared alongside Atkinson in ''[[The Thin Blue Line (British TV series)|The Thin Blue Line]]''.<ref>[https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096657/fullcredits Credits] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181014072751/https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096657/fullcredits |date=14 October 2018 }} at the [[Internet Movie Database]]. Retrieved 17 April 2008.</ref>