On what date did the first Mr. Bean television episode premiere?

The first Mr. Bean television episode premiered on 1 January 1990. The episode, titled “Mr. Bean,” introduced the character’s comic routines to ITV viewers in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Bean was unusual for a television sitcom because it relied heavily on visual comedy and used very little spoken dialogue. The character’s problems were ordinary—such as getting dressed, attending church, or preparing food—but his solutions were wildly elaborate.

The series became internationally popular despite its British setting because its central humor was easy to understand without fluent English. The original live-action run eventually consisted of 15 episodes broadcast between 1990 and 1995. Later animated episodes and two feature films expanded the character’s audience.