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August 1, 2026Short & citedBlog
Civic Viewpoint.
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Kept by Bryan McAllister — short guides, clear facts, and the Canadian angle when it matters.
Screen & Stage • Series

Mr. Bean

Mr.

Updated August 1, 20261 min readCited sources

Mr. Bean is a British television sitcom created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, first airing on ITV in 1990. It is known for its largely nonverbal physical comedy and short run of 15 episodes.

What it is

The series follows Mr. Bean, an eccentric and childish man who approaches ordinary tasks in unusual and often disruptive ways. The humour relies heavily on visual gags, physical performance, and limited speech.

Key details

The live-action series originally aired on ITV from 1 January 1990 to 15 December 1995, produced by Tiger Aspect Productions. It consists of 15 episodes, including the pilot and a final clip show special. The show has been broadcast internationally in nearly 200 countries.

Why it matters

Mr. Bean is widely remembered as a classic British comedy due to its universal physical humour and minimal reliance on dialogue. The character remains a longstanding part of popular culture, inspiring an animated series and two feature films: *Bean* (1997) and *Mr. Bean's Holiday* (2007).

In short

  • Created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis, first aired on ITV in 1990.
  • Known for physical comedy and minimal dialogue across 15 episodes.
  • Expanded into an animated series and two feature films.
  • Broadcast in nearly 200 countries, including Canada.
Canadian angle

Mr. Bean has been widely broadcast internationally and is familiar to Canadian audiences through television, home video, and online clips, making it a recognizable part of imported British comedy in Canada.[1][3]

Quick questions

Who created Mr. Bean?
Mr. Bean was created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis.
How many episodes are in the original series?
The original live-action series has 15 episodes, including the pilot and a final clip show special.
Did Mr. Bean have spin-offs?
Yes. The franchise expanded into an animated series and two feature films, among other media.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Bean
    Supports: Created by Rowan Atkinson and Richard Curtis; ITV original run; 15 episodes; premise and character details.
  2. Wikipedia — https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mr._Bean_(character)
    Supports: Character origins, portrayal by Atkinson, and related films.
  3. Mental Floss — https://www.mentalfloss.com/entertainment/tv/15-things-you-might-not-know-about-mr-bean
    Supports: 1990 debut, worldwide broadcast reach, and franchise expansion.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096657/
    Supports: Series synopsis emphasizing physical comedy and minimal dialogue.
  5. Netflix — https://www.netflix.com/title/70213239
    Supports: The series includes all 14 episodes in the anthology listing and credits Atkinson and Curtis.
  6. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/mr_bean
    Supports: Original network, release date, genre, and short synopsis.