Mr Bean Divorces His Wife Of Many Years

Rowan Atkinson is today expected to finalise a 'quickie divorce' from his wife of 24 years after leaving her for a comedy actress half his age, it has been reported.

The Mr Bean star has been estranged from ex-BBC make-up artist Sunetra, 54, since the couple split in 2014.

Atkinson, 60, has been dating 32-year-old Louise Ford for 18 months. She has appeared in Channel 4's Misfits and starred alongside Inbetweeners actors Simon Bird and Joe Thomas in Sky’s Chickens.


Split: Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson is today expected to finalise a divorce from his wife of 24 years, Sunetra



Atkinson left his wife for comedy actress Louise Ford (pictured), who is half his age

Atkinson's 'quickie divorce' decree nisi is set to be approved at London's Central Family Court.

A source said: 'Sunetra was deeply upset to be replaced by such a younger woman.'

She and Atkinson were building an £11million home in Oxfordshire at the time of their split in 2014.

The Blackadder star moved into a £4million London cottage while Sunetra is living in a £21million mansion in the capital.

One of Britain’s most wealthy entertainers with a fortune of around £70million, Atkinson sold his rare McLaren F1 supercar for £8million earlier this year.

He and Sunetra have two children together - Ben, 22, and Lily, 20.

Atkinson first met his wife, the daughter of an Indian engineer from Ealing, West London, in the late Eighties, when she was working as a make-up artist for the BBC.


New relationship: The Mr Bean star met Miss Ford in 2013 after appearing together in the West End as he starred in the comic play Quatermaine’s Terms. The couple have been dating for around 18 months

He was previously in a relationship with Men Behaving Badly star Leslie Ash who he planted an avenue of rowan and ash trees for at his country home.

Miss Ford and Atkinson met in 2013 after appearing together in the West End as he starred in the comic play Quartermaine's Terms.

The comedienne grew up in Bexleyheath, south-east London, before gaining an English degree at Southampton University.

After graduating, she won a place at RADA where she was in the same year and treaded the boards with now Hollywood actress Gemma Arterton.

This led to appearances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with the Royal Shakespeare Company and parts in television comedies.

MailOnline has approached Atkinson's representatives for a comment.