Actor Rowan Atkinson's wife has been granted a divorce on the grounds of his "unreasonable behaviour".

The Mr Bean and Blackadder star was not present at the brief proceedings in central London.

Estranged wife Sunetra was granted a decree nisi against the 60-year-old by a district judge at the Central Family Court.

Atkinson married the make-up artist in 1990.

Divorce papers made public today did not give any details relating to the unreasonable behaviour ground.

Listed as Atkinson S D v R S, the case was the fourth in a list of 26 before District Judge Stephen Alderson for decrees and orders to be made under the "quickie" procedure.

The County Durham-born actor and his wife, who have two children, are reported to have split last year.