Seems odd to celebrate Rowan Atkinson’s birthday given the fact that he’s the one that, along with Richard Curtis, has given us the timeless gift of laughter over the years. We all know about the gifts of Blackadder, Mr. Bean and Inspector Fowler in Thin Blue Line. I remember first seeing Atkinson along with Mel Smith and Griff Rhys Jones in the late 70’s, early 80’s, classic BBC comedy sketch series, Not the 9 O’Clock News.

The show originally aired on BBC 2 at the same time as the Nine O’Clock News was transmitted on BBC 1, hence, the name. The list of other notables involved in the production is quite lengthy starting with creator/producer, John Lloyd (Blackadder, To the Manor Born, Spitting Image, QI), writer, Richard Curtis (Vicar of Dibley, Blackadder, Mr. Bean), writer, David Renwick (One Foot in the Grave, Jonathan Creek, The Two Ronnies), musical director, Howard Goodall (Red Dwarf, Blackadder, Vicar of Dibley) and cast member, Chris Langham (The Thick of It, People Like Us, Kiss Me Kate).

So, Happy Birthday, Rowan. Thanks for all the years of laughter, especially, the two memorable clips below where Rowan begins and ends the broadcast day of BBC2.

BBC 2 begins its broadcasting day

BBC 2 ends its broadcasting day