Who could possibly forget Rowan Atkinson’s unforgettable Mr. Bean appearance at the London 2012 Olympic Games opening ceremony on July 27, 2012?
The night began with Sir Simon Rattle and the London Symphony Orchestra preparing to perform Vangelis’ legendary Chariots of Fire. The stage was set for a grand and serious moment—until the camera cut to the pianist. Instead of a professional musician, audiences around the world were met with Rowan Atkinson, fully in character as the bumbling Mr. Bean.
From the very first shot, laughter filled living rooms everywhere. Bean’s “job” was to play the simple, steady beat on a synthesizer, but of course, he found it painfully boring. Struggling to keep up, he tried switching fingers, then eventually gave up and used his umbrella to keep the rhythm going. Classic Bean.
Things got funnier when he nodded off mid-performance, slipping into a daydream. Suddenly, the audience saw the famous Chariots of Fire running scene—but this time, with Mr. Bean awkwardly joining the race, desperately trying to keep up with the athletes and falling behind in the most hilarious fashion.
At an event meant to honor the greatest athletes on Earth, Atkinson delivered something equally timeless: a masterclass in British comedy.
As one broadcaster put it: “That is English humour at its best. Rowan Atkinson, Mr. Bean—famous the world over, and I hope you laughed.”
Reflecting on the performance, Atkinson once explained:
“Music and comedy sit extremely well together, but they have to blend. They can’t fight each other—it’s like a dance. Music, in many ways, is the straight man to comedy, the support that makes the jokes work.”
