I was initially concerned about the comparison between Rowan Atkinson and Mr Bean.
As Maigret, Atkinson corrals his familiar on-screen exuberance, suppressing his natural instinct for broad comic gestures.
Rowan Atkinson is famous throughout the world as Mr Bean, a comedy show that is surely playing as in-flight entertainment somewhere on the planet at every single moment of the day.
But the reaction has been very positive, and the public have recognised Rowan for what he is: a great Maigret.”