What Rowan Atkinson is really like away from the cameras

The 71-year-old lives in Oxfordshire and is known to millions all over the world for Mr Bean, Johnny English and Blackadder.

Another famous role that Mr Atkinson took on was that of French police detective Chief Inspector Jules Maigret in the ITV adaptation of Maigret.

Starring alongside the acting legend as Inspector Janvier was Shaun Dingwall, who previously played Pete Tyler in Doctor Who.

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Mr Dingwall spoke to the Oxford Mail last week ahead of appearing at BFI Southbank’s special Doctor Who: 20 Years On – The Tenth Doctor on Saturday (August 15).

Talking about his co-star, the 56-year-old opened up about what Mr Atkinson is really like away from the cameras.

“He’s a really interesting guy,” said Mr Dingwall.

“He’s got some great stories, but he’s incredibly private as well. Very focused on filming, but, yeah, I’m really fond of Rowan.

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“I got on really well with him, and he’s done some amazing work over the years with Blackadder, for me, being one of the greatest comedies ever made.”

Speaking warmly about his co-star, Shaun added: “Every now and again, he’s quiet and incredibly thoughtful.

“Then he’ll come out with ‘There was this one time…’ and he’ll tell you a story, and you sit there and listen because it’s Rowan Atkinson.”

Maigret, starring the two actors, ran on ITV from 2016 until 2017 with four feature-length specials airing in that time.