Global cartoon comedian star, Mr. Bean, has a Public Service Announcement (PSA) for you during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis that affects everyone in all spheres of life. In order to continue providing updates and important guidelines on how to stay safe during this crisis, public health agencies must collaborate with artists and think of creative ways to reach out to audiences of all ages from around the world.
The World Health Organization (WHO) collaborated with Project Everyone and Tiger Aspect Productions to create a coronavirus advisory through the extraordinary, yet persevering character, Mr. Bean.
Beloved actor Rowan Atkinson and screenwriter Richard Curtis originally created the character and TV show, Mr. Bean, when Atkinson was studying for his master’s degree at Oxford University. Atkinson has described Bean as “a child in a grown man’s body.”
Curtis, who also devised Project Everyone, said: “We are delighted to work with the WHO on this Mr. Bean sketch and to support health messaging around COVID-19. In 2015 193 world leaders committed to 17 Global Goals to end poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030. Good Health and Wellbeing is Goal 3 and central to achieving all of the Global Goals. It’s key that we work with creative partners – and that all sectors come together to continue to get messages out about how we can tackle COVID-19 and build back a better world where the Global Goals remain the guiding plan to be achieved by 2030. I’m not QUITE sure which sector Mr Bean belongs too – but we’re delighted to have him on board.”
Voiced by Mr. Bean star Rowan Atkinson, Mr. Bean gives a Public Service Announcement reminding people to be kind, wash your hands, continue social distancing, monitor symptoms, and follow your doctor’s advice in a hilarious, short rendition.
Mr. Bean’s Essential COVID-19 Checklist
Head held high, cartoon comedian star —Mr. Bean— strides with purpose into the blank lecture hall in his classic brown tweed jacket; white collared shirt; red tie; dark brown pants, a black buckled belt; and black shoes.
He pauses, crossing his arms. With the tilt of his head and pouty lips, Professor Bean stops to look up challengely at the tall, retractable, manual presentation screen above. He’s figured it out! He reaches up to pull the screen down.
Taking a step back, we see a glimpse of his powerpoint slide: Mr. Bean’s Essential COVID-19 Checklist! With a proud smile, he gestures at the checklist with his hands.
In a grass green background, turquoise-colored font, and asterisk bullet points, his powerpoint reads:
Mr. Bean’s Essential COVID-19 Checklist!
*Keep your hands clean and don’t touch your face
*Keep your distance – at least 1 metre
*Keep in touch with your neighbors —-
But before we can continue reading, the screen defiantly rolls back up — scaring Bean and smacking him in the butt. After rubbing his smarting behind, he puts his hands resolutely on his hips.
For a moment, he scowls deeply at the now inanimate screen before reaching back up, with two hands this time, to pull it carefully back down even lower than before. When the screen obeys this time, he cautiously tip-toes backwards with a delighted smile while keeping his watchful yet hopeful eye on the screen.
When the screen continues to stay, a proud smile stretches across his face. He stands up straight and presents his slide with a grand gesture of his hands.
This time, we read the whole slide. Bean composed:
Mr. Bean’s Essential COVID-19 Checklist!
*Keep your hands clean and don’t touch your face
*Keep your distance – at least 1 metre
*Keep in touch with your neighbors, and be kind
*Keep an eye on the symptoms and if needed call the doctor and follow their advice
Having accomplished his goal, Mr. Bean looks directly at us and chuckles, wagging his black eyebrows. Head held high, he grooves his way off the perimeter until he disappears from the camera’s view.
Mr. Bean helps the WHO spread the word.