Photo: World Health Organization; Tiger Aspect; Project Everyone

Even in today’s unsettling times, one can never get enough of Mr. Bean. Our latest ‘Bean’ sighting is courtesy of the World Health Organization as they have come up with a new public service announcement to remind people to wash their hands, show kindness and maintain physical distance featuring global comedy icon, Mr Bean.

In collaboration with Project Everyone, a not-for-profit agency devised by Richard Curtis (Blackadder, Mr. Bean, Vicar of Dibley), and Tiger Aspect Productions, the PSA titled, “Mr Bean’s Essential COVID-19 Checklist” acts as a simple yet essential to-do list during the Covid-19 world-wide pandemic.

The public service announcement features Mr Bean as he attempts to operate a roller blind to finally reveal a number of essential tips to protect people against Covid-19 which has infected over 9 million people globally.

Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization, said: “COVID-19 affects every walk of human life, and we need to use all tools and avenues at our disposal to share life-saving information with all people around the world. I am grateful for the support of the team behind Mr Bean for lending your voice and talents to spread vital advice on physical distancing, hygiene and knowing the symptoms.”

Atkinson created the Mr. Bean character when he was at Oxford University along with filmmaker and U.N. Sustainable Development Goals advocate Richard Curtis. Bean will celebrate his 30th anniversary in 2020. What better way to celebrate than to lend your efforts and voice to an ad that, like Mr. Bean, is so simple yet so essential in today’s times.

While there is nothing new from an informational standpoint, hopefully, Mr. Bean can connect with the relatively large segment of the world’s population that just hasn’t gotten the message as of yet.