English comedy icon Rowan Atkinson, forever applauded for his on-screen creation Mr. Bean, has been blamed for “damaging” the reputation of electric vehicles (EVs) and contributing to slow sales simply by expressing his opinion on their future – or lack of it.

The actor was name-checked in the British House of Lords on Tuesday during its environment and climate change committee meeting, Sky News reports.

Thinktank Green Alliance outlined the main obstacles the government faces in its bid to push petrol and diesel cars to the kerb before 2035, pointing to a newspaper comment piece by the Johnny English star published in June 2023 as damaging to the cause.

The pressure group told peers in a letter an opinion piece by Atkinson damaged the cause of EV take-ups.