Rowan Atkinson [antikvár]

Acknowledgements This is a book about a showbusiness paradox - an enduring individual in a flash-in-the-pan world. He comes into millions of homes on a regular basis and yet gives away little of himself. He remains a private person, drawing a sharp line between the personal and the professional. The key to this book was decoding the art to discover where the artist came in. At times during the writing I have felt like a minor character in a particularly Kafkaesque Blackadder episode. Just as I thought I had everything worked out Atkinson would slip through my fingers again. Imagine trying to carry an octopus in a string bag. It is fair to say that over the last two years Rowan Atkinson has made me laugh and made me cry. There have been frustrating moments and euphoric moments, both onscreen and off. Over the last 25 years Rowan Atkinson has created a substantial body of work. He has been involved in the creation of two characters that will certainly outlive him. It is this body of work that this book sets out to examine. The personal is always there, but the professional is very much at the forefront. In this quest to understand something about Atkinson, I have been assisted by a number of people. Some gave interviews off the record. Some gave interviews on the record. Some refused to acknowledge requests for interviews. Some refused to speak when contacted by telephone. Some could not see a problem. Many thanks to those that offered advice and support. The nicest refusal of all undoubtedly came from Griff Rhys Jones. Other sources include the national UK newspapers and my employers Time Out, as well as specialist magazines, particularly Cult TV, Radio Times, Broadcast, Vox, TV Zone and Car. Local publications The Oxford Mail, The Newcastle fournal and the Newcastle Evening