Comedian Rowan Atkinson hits Moray race track
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ONE of Britain’s best-known comedy actors made a surprise pitstop at a Moray race track.
Easily recognised on screen as the bumbling Mr Bean and sarcastic Edmund Blackadder, Rowan Atkinson was one of the last people Elgin Kart Raceway owner Charlie Tawse expected to pay him a visit.
The car-loving comic is visiting northern Scotland with his two children and a group of their friends, and they booked themselves in at the Lhanbryde-based track – under a fake name – for a two-hour spin on Wednesday night.
They were joined by former Formula 1 racing star Emanuele Pirro.
Mr Tawse admitted he had no idea who the mystery booking was for, and said he was shocked when it turned out to be one of his own personal comedy heroes.
"It was a bit of a shock. I took one look at him and I said ‘I know who that is’ because I find him absolutely hilarious," he said.
"When he is acting he doesn’t have to put much on. His facial expressions are absolutely brilliant and when I was speaking to him I told him that it reminded me of when he is on TV. He said I will take that as a compliment, and I told him that is a compliment."
Mr Tawse said Rowan Atkinson is a huge car fan.
He owns one of the leading-edge McLaren F1 supercars, which cost £500,000 when they were first introduced in the 1990s and are still renowned as one of the fastest production cars in the world.
Mr Tawse also said he last week set the track record on BBC TV show Top Gear, which each episode puts a celebrity in its ‘reasonably priced car’ for a timed lap.
"Rowan Atkinson is a bit of a racer," said Mr Tawse.
"And he said before he left that he would try to fit in another visit before they go home, because they all really enjoyed it."
For the full story, see next Friday’s 'Northern Scot'.
