Paddington enters rehab after trying method acting for role in Cocaine Bear

Popular ursine actor Paddington has checked into an exclusive rehab clinic today, claiming that method acting ‘backfired badly’ during the filming of Cocaine Bear.

Paddington, who has built a successful career on the back of a cuddly, family-friendly image, was trying to extend his range by playing a bear driven insane by 15kg of nose candy – only for the experiment to go badly wrong.

The film is loosely based on the true story of an American Black Bear who consumed cocaine and went on a rampage in 1985, and Paddington was hoping to use the lead role to make the jump to more dramatic films.

“At first it was just a bit of bump first thing in the morning on set to help him find the character,” said confidante Judy Brown.

“But before long he was muzzle-down in a heap of snow snorting the stuff up.

“Have you seen how big a bear’s nose is? The bear in the film only took 15kg of the stuff, but Paddington was like a Henry Hoover with the boost button stuck on.”

Paddington joins a line of celebrities who have sought help for addiction, including Sooty for a serious painkiller problem initially caused by an unfortunate incident with Matthew Corbett’s hand getting stuck, Mister Toad who took a lot of speed in more ways than one, and Basil Brush who was off television for over a decade recovering from sex addiction.