Atkinson is a free agent

Of the many characters Rowan Atkinson has played in his 30 years on screen, Johnny English was one he did for money.

Well, the Bond-parody character did start life in a series of British credit card ads in the late 80s and early 90s. Atkinson’s English made the belated leap to the big screen in 2003 in a movie that did a tidy amount at the international box office - though his two Mr Bean movies are bigger earners. Now there’s a sequel, Johnny English Reborn.

“There was a demand for another Johnny English movie but there was a demand eight years ago - it feels like a commercially suicidal long time to leave between a first film and a second film. But it was partly laziness on my part and partly I got distracted by other things, like a Mr Bean movie, and then I went into a musical in the West End. I played Fagin in a revival of Oliver two years ago and that sort of put if off for another year, and eventually we got round to it,” Atkinson said.

Speaking about his ever popular Mr Bean movies the actor added that it is unlikely that he will be seen in the part again.

“I am getting a bit old for it, to be honest. Not too old in terms of being able to play the part or have the attitude but I have always regarded Mr Bean as a live action cartoon character and he’s an ageless, timeless sort of person. I thought as soon as he starts looking a bit middle aged or older. I thought we got away with it in the last movie, Mr Bean’s Holiday, but I am not sure we could get away with it again. I prefer to remember him as he was,” he said.

Johnny English Reborn is screening at Liberty cinema.