Fans of Celebrity Traitors star James Acaster have revisited his unusual relationship history after clips resurfaced of him joking that he was “left for” County Durham-born actor Rowan Atkinson.
Actress Louise Ford dated Acaster for two years from 2011, and they moved to London together before splitting in 2013.
A year later, a 32-year-old Ford began dating her Consett-born co-star Rowan Atkinson, best known for playing Mr Bean.
The pair had worked together on the West End production of Quartermaine’s Terms, with then-58-year-old Atkinson divorcing his wife of 24 years, Sunetra Sastry, in 2015 after a period of separation.
Fresh attention on 41-year-old Acaster after his appearance on BBC’s Celebrity Traitors has revived interest in the relationship drama he discussed in his 2020 comedy special, Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999.
Acaster is quickly becoming a fan favourite on BBC's Celebrity Traitors (Image: BBC/Studio Lambert/Cody Burridge/BBC Creative/PA Wire)
The comedian said: “I found out a year after we split up.”
"I opened the newspaper and there’s a photo of the two of them walking arm in arm down the street together, and a full story about how they were a couple now.”
Acaster added: “Until you get left for Mr Bean, you don’t realise how frequently he pops up.”
Since the clips of the comedian resurfaced, fans have discussed and debated the situation online for themselves.
One social media commenter wrote: "I mean, if my girlfriend left me for Rowan Atkinson, I don't know if I’d even be mad at it."
Another commenter added: "Seeing him on Traitors combined with how he handled this has really raised my respect for James Acaster. He seems like a genuinely good and kind person."
Outside stand-up, Acaster is also known for co-hosting the Off Menu podcast with comedian Ed Gamble.
Ford and Atkinson are still together and have one child, Isla, who was born in 2017.
(Image: BBC / PA)
That year, his daughter Lily, from his marriage to Sastry, changed her surname from Atkinson to Sastry, prompting speculation about a family rift.
Lily Sastry later discussed her parents’ separation in a 2025 Substack post, writing: "It's hard to find out who you are in the midst of no friends, a broken family, and no idea how to navigate making music and trying to understand the world."
Atkinson was born in Consett, County Durham, and left the North East in his youth to attend Durham Cathedral Chorister School, then St Bees School in Cumbria.
His most notable role came in 1990 in the form of Mr Bean, the iconic character which has propelled Atkinson to a household name.
Ford has appeared in Horrible Histories and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She also satirically portrayed Catherine, Princess of Wales, in Channel 4 comedy The Windsors.
She and Atkinson have a daughter, Isla, who was born in 2017.
The County Durham actor is due to return to West End sketch comedy after 40 years in Rowan Live at London’s Gillian Lynne Theatre in 2027.
The production will run for 30 performances from February 8 to March 13, 2027. Tickets go on general sale on October 7, 2026.