What subject did Rowan Atkinson study at Newcastle University before Mr. Bean?

Rowan Atkinson studied electrical engineering at Newcastle University before becoming famous as Mr. Bean. His academic background preceded his career in television, film, and live comedy.

Atkinson later continued studying electrical engineering at The Queen’s College, Oxford. While at Oxford, he became involved in comedy performance and met people who helped lead him toward professional entertainment. His technical education is often mentioned because it contrasts with the deliberately simple, chaotic behavior of Mr. Bean.

Atkinson’s university subject does not mean that Mr. Bean is an engineer or that the character has a stated profession in the same way. It is a fact about the actor’s education. The answer is also sometimes confused with mechanical engineering, but published biographies identify his field as electrical engineering.