Now The Mail on Sunday can reveal that the 48-year-old star will marry Miss Sutcliffe, an actress almost 20 years his junior, on Tuesday.

The private ceremony will take place at Marylebone Register Office in Central London at midday in front of 15 close family and friends.

“We are hoping it’s actually going to take place,” a family friend said last night.

‘Volatile’: Friends are still unsure whether Bean and Georgina will tie the knot this week

“Sean and Georgina have changed their minds quite a lot.”

Miss Sutcliffe, 29, who has had a handful of minor TV roles, declined to comment.

When last month’s ceremony was called off, together with a lavish reception at a West End hotel, she said it had been for “personal reasons”.

Third time unlucky: With Sharpe co-star Abigail Cruttenden in 1997

But her mother Amanda confirmed last night that the wedding would now take place.

She said: “The marriage is going ahead, absolutely.”

However, a friend of the couple, who described their relationship as volatile, was not so sure and said: “We are all waiting for another call to announce the whole thing is off.”
Hill of Bean’s: With second wife, Bread actress Melanie Hill in 1995

Bean married first wife Debra, a hairdresser, when he was 21.

He has two grown-up daughters, Lorna and Molly, with his second wife, TV actress Melanie Hill.

After their divorce he married another actress, Abigail Cruttenden, who had played his wife in ITV’s Sharpe. They had a daughter, Evie, now nine.

A spokesman for the star declined to comment last night.