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Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson is to become a dad again – at the age of 62.
The comedy legend’s actress partner Louise Ford, 33, is expecting their first child in the next few weeks.
Rowan already has son Ben, 23, and daughter Lily, 21, from his marriage to Sunetra Sastry.
He began dating Louise – who plays Kate Middleton in hit Channel 4 comedy The Windsors – in 2014 after separating from Sunetra.
Louise Ford was spotted this week with a sizeable baby bump . A source close to the pair says they 'are over the moon' by the news
The following year his 25-year marriage ended after a 65-second court hearing. And a year later Louise moved in to his £4.65million cottage in North London.
A source said: “Rowan and Louise are over the moon and can’t wait for their new arrival. It’s a very happy time for them both.”
The couple – who met in 2012 when they acted together in West End comedy Quatermaine’s Terms – come from very different backgrounds.
Louise grew up in Bexley, South East London, where she went to the local grammar school. Her father was a gas fitter and her mother worked with disabled people.
After studying English at Southampton University she went to RADA acting school, alongside future stars Tom Hiddleston and Gemma Arterton.
She said: “My parents were proud when I went to Uni, less pleased when I wanted to be an actor, then more pleased when I went to Rada.”
It will be the couple's first child together (Image: Vantage news)
She appeared in Channel 4 comedy drama Crashing before landing her royal role in The Windsors, but jokes: “My mother would love it if I was in Midsomer Murders.”
Privately-educated Rowan, whose dad was a farmer in Consett, County Durham, went to Oxford University before finding fame in the 1980s in cult BBC comedy sketch show Not The Nine O’Clock News.
He has built an estimated £70million fortune from classic roles including the bumbling vicar in Four Weddings and a Funeral , and scheming Blackadder in four series of the BBC’s historical sitcom. His silent Mr Bean character – first seen in 1990 – has appeared in three hit movies so far. And he played him in the opening ceremony of the London Olympics in 2012.
A third money-spinning movie based on his bungling spy Johnny English is due out next year. He has also turned to straight acting, starring as Belgian detective Maigret on ITV.
But Rowan confided that he had “a certain kinship” with lonely, single characters he portrays – despite his marriage to Sunetra. They met when she was a BBC make-up artist and were married in New York in 1990.
He explained: “I’ve played quite a few of these sad, isolated bachelor figures – Bean is the most obvious. And I do identify with them, or aspects of them.”
When he split with Sunetra in 2014, they were building an £11million home in Oxfordshire. But he relocated to his cottage while Sunetra, 60, moved into a £21million mansion in London. She filed for divorce citing irreconcilable differences and the family was said to be devastated when he started a younger woman.
Son Ben is in the army and daughter Lily is a burlesque singer and dancer.
Last month it was reported that Lily had dropped her father’s surname to use her mother’s instead. One friend said: “It’s a real mystery.” Rowan has insisted he is “on board” with her career but apparently nodded off in the audience as she performed last year.
The star – a car fanatic who twice crashed his £8m McLaren supercar – once told how he found his level of fame “disturbing.”
He said: “It is bizarre. I try not to think about it too much. If I ever do stop and dwell on how well known my face is in so many obscure places of the world then I think I would find it quite disturbing.”
The actor has also starred in several films, including as agent Johnny English in the film of the same name
And he once admitted that when he isn’t portraying a character he “can be funny” but only “when I am with very good friends in small rooms and I’m very relaxed”.
Louise has told how she loves quiet nights in listening to records rather than being glued to her phone.
And Rowan says: “I like being alone but most of the time I enjoy being with people I love.”
Pregnant Louise was seen shopping in North London last week...sporting one of bungling Mr Bean’s proudest bumps so far. Rowan’s spokesman declined to comment.
