Rowan Atkinson has spoken about Mr Bean as the comedy character turns 25 years old.

The actor recalled the origins of the "vindictive" Bean and contemplated the success of the "outrageously self-centred" character.

"There are moments of sentimentality in Bean but normally it's undermined pretty rapidly by his outrageously self-centred and self-regarding behaviour," Atkinson told The La Times.

"I certainly always enjoyed the vindictive side of Bean, and I think it's interesting to have your cake and eat it.

"I think sometimes he can be rather sweet, as children can, and sometimes he can be extremely unpleasant, as children can. He covers the child spectrum, I think, quite well."

On his intentions for the character, Atkinson added: "I remember feeling the frustration of the parochial nature of comedy and thinking how nice it would be if one could break that tradition and find something that was of genuine international appeal."

Atkinson...