County Durham comedian Rowan Atkinson is back to our screens and back at the top after his most recent Netflix series hit the top ten in its first week on our screens.
The actor, who hails from Consett, has been off our screens for the best part of a decade after starring in firm fan favourites such as Mr Bean, Johnny English, and Blackadder.
But, at the end of June, streaming service Netflix dropped new TV series ‘Man Vs Bee’ – which features Atkinson in the lead role.
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The nine-episode series follows hapless house sitter Trevor as he attempts to take care of a luxury mansion before chaos ensues after being invaded by a mischievous bee.
Despite becoming a huge household name over the years, not many people knew how the actor’s new TV venture would go after a notable long absence, but viewers are evidently flocking to see his new show – after it made its way to the top ten in the UK across the Netflix platforms.
When viewers are scrolling through things to watch, ‘Man Vs Bee’ now comes up alongside the likes of Ozark and Stranger Things.
Alongside the release of ‘Man Vs Bee’, Atkinson has been campaigning for more awareness when it comes to bees, which are on the decline in the UK.
As part of Atkinson’s new Netflix series, a series of comedic life-sized wildflower-filled ‘Growin Atkinson’ sculptures have been commissioned filled with pollen and nectar-rich wildflowers.
According to research commissioned by The British Bee Charity and Netflix, more than a third (35%) of Brits have already noticed massive declines in bee populations in their local areas this summer, with experts believing that as many as 17 species of UK bee are now extinct and many more are at risk.
To make people take note of the devastating decline, each sculpture has been packed with plants ranging from helianthus to petunia and shares a wacky likeness to Rowan's starring role as Trevor in the new Netflix series Man vs Bee - his first original comedy character to hit TV screens for the first time in nearly a decade.
Speaking about the endangerment of bees and his new show, Rowan Atkinson said: "My alter ego, Trevor, may go to battle with a bee, but personally I’m pleased to have these eccentric statues help raise awareness of the plight of native British bees in this country.
“Packed with pollen, nectar and flowering plants to help raise a smile, make people consider the environment and create something of a bee buffet in an effort to help them survive the summer."
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