Rowan&Louise

MrBean funnyman Rowan Atkinson stunned friends last week when he told them he was taking a year off to care for his baby daughter – a move that will enable his young girlfriend Louise Ford to hit the accelerator on her own acting career.

The comedian, 64, and the star of royal spoof TheWindsors, 35, welcomed baby Isla 14 months ago and an insider says Rowan – who is also father to Ben, 26, and Lily, 24, from his marriage to make-up artist Sunetra Sastry, 62 – “completely dotes on her”.

Another source adds, “Rowan does not really need to work, but he is proud of how well Louise is doing and wants to do what he can to support her.”