Rowan Atkinson takes a sabbatical year to look after his young daughter

Rowan Atkinson told shocked friends that he was going to be out of work to look after his daughter.

The star of Mr Bean will become a homemaker after welcoming his daughter Isla in December 2017 with her partner Louise Ford, 35 years old.

Rowan reportedly told his friends that he was going to take care of Baby Bean while Louise would have the chance to focus on acting.

Previously, Louise had starred in Crashing, Phoebe Waller-Bridge's comedy, as well as Channel 4's fictional documentary The Windsors, in which she portrayed Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge.

"Rowan has the habit of surprising people – and he's done it again with this announcement," said The Sun a source close to Rowan.

"He said that he would spend time behind his job to join Isla, which will obviously allow Louise to focus on her career that is going well."

Rowan, 64, and Louise have been dating since 2014 after meeting in 2012 with West End Quartermaine's Term (Production).

Rowan already has a son, Ben, 23, and a 21-year-old daughter from her marriage to Sunetra Sastry.

He separated from Sunetra in 2014, who had raised "irreconcilable differences" in divorce records the following year.

In October 2018, Rowan told Graham Norton that he had essentially closed the lid on his time as a fan favorite, Mr. Bean.

Since 1990, the character has been on our screens in a series of mini-movies and is so successful that he wins his own blockbuster.

It was then turned into a cartoon that lasted 12 years, but ended in 2016.

Explaining to Graham that it was time to drop the series, he said, "I doubt he will reappear, but you never know.

"You must never say, never say never, but there comes a time when you feel that you have done the most you want to do."

Metro.co.uk has contacted Rowan representatives for a comment.