He has been one of the UK’s favourite and most prominent refugees for two-thirds of a century. Now Paddington Bear – official name Paddington Brown – has been granted a British passport.

The co-producer of the latest Paddington film said the Home Office had issued the document to the fictional Peruvian-born character – listing for completeness the official observation that he is, in fact, a bear.

“We wrote to the Home Office asking if we could get a replica, and they actually issued Paddington with an official passport – there’s only one of these,” Rob Silva told Radio Times.

He produced the document, complete with Paddington’s photo inside, adding: “You wouldn’t think the Home Office would have a sense of humour, but under official observations, they’ve just listed him as Bear.”

  • Shmiggles
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    1 hour ago

    So this is why I’ve been waiting since July for the Home Office to decide whether to give me Indefinite Leave to Remain.

  • witty_username@feddit.nl
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    3 hours ago

    I assume this is meant to be some cutesy publicity stunt or a reaffirmation of the UK identity?
    It feels a bit misguided to me. In a time where thousands of people die trying to attain better living prospects in safer countries (and those that survive often end up exploited and ‘illegal’), a fictional character is awarded the near-unattainable protection of a legal status because people are fond of it.
    What message is conveyed here?

    • mannycalavera
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      1 hour ago

      What message is conveyed here?

      That you shouldn’t become upset over a children’s fictional character.

      • witty_username@feddit.nl
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        46 minutes ago

        I’m not upset. I’m just wondering why the choice was made to make legal status the focus of this undertaking

        • drolex@sopuli.xyz
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          11 minutes ago

          Initially they had a PR stunt in which he was deported to Rwanda, but the focus groups were not reacting very positively.