THE Simpsons will be leaving Channel 4 after a whopping 20 years with the broadcaster.
In a sudden move, the long-running animates series will cease airing in its traditional teatime slot.
Fans of the programme have tuned in at 6:30pm for years to get their regular Simpsons fix – but this all comes to an end from January.
Brand new episodes will now stream first exclusively on Disney+.
However, terrestrial television will still get some Simpsons episodes, albeit a few series behind.
In January, E4 will become the only home of the show on linear TV with episodes from season 32 airing on the channel.
These episodes will then be made available to stream on Channel 4’s online platform for a very limited time shortly after airing before being ultimately retained exclusively by Disney+.
Disney+ will begin airing episodes from season 36 in the spring time – at the same time as in the US.
Every episode of the show is streaming now on Disney+ along with the hit 2007 film The Simpsons Movie.
Polly Scates, the Head of Acquisitions at Channel 4 said: “The Simpsons and Channel 4 have a historic relationship, and I’m delighted that we will continue to bring this much loved and iconic series to our audience.
“In an evolving market, collaboration has never felt more important, and it’s been a pleasure working with Disney Entertainment to bring the latest seasons to UK viewers, who can now watch the show on E4 and C4 Streaming once it has aired on Disney +.”
Channel 4 unveiled the news on The Simpsons’ 35th birthday.
The show made its debut on 17 December 1989 with the iconic opening Christmas episode – Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire.
1992 – SUPER BOWL: In an episode titled Lisa the Greek, the brainiest Simpson tells dad Homer that the Washington Redskins will win if she still loves her dad, and the Buffalo Bills will win if she no longer does. In the end, Washington wins. The episode aired a few days before the actual Super Bowl, correctly depicting the outcome.
1995 – FACETIME: The episode Lisa’s Wedding predicted the technology down to the year it was announced – with a future scene set in 2010 showing a video call.
1998 – DISNEY CONGLOMERATE: In the episode When You Dish Upon a Star, Homer makes a comment about 20th Century Fox becoming a part of Disney Corporation. This became a reality 19 years later, in 2017.
2000 – DONALD TRUMP PRESIDENCY: The episode Bart to the Future features Lisa as US President. She’s seen talking to her staff about the “budget crunch” she inherited from former President Trump. Of course, businessman Donald Trump actually would become President 15 years after the episode aired.
2005 – CANADA’S MARIJUANA LEGALISATION: In Midnight Rx, Homer, Ned, Apu, and Grampa Simpson visit Canada and find out that Marijuana is legal. This legalisation would later become a reality in 2018.
2008 – E-VOTING ISSUE: Treehouse of Horror XIX sees Homer attempting to vote for Barack Obama on an e-voting machine, but the machine instead registered the vote for election rival John McCain. Four years later, in the 2012 election, an issue with vote swapping occurring at electronic voting machines.
2010 – OLYMPICS PREDICTION: In Boy Meets Curl, Homer and Marge win Gold against Sweden who claims silver at the Olympics. Eight years later, the prediction proved accurate with Sweden’s curling team winning silver against the US Men’s team at the 2018 Winter Olympics.
2010 – NOBEL PRIZES: Milhouse predicts in Elementary School Musical that Finnish MIT economics professor, Bengt Holmstrom, and Dutch chemist, Ben Feringa, would win Nobel Prizes in their respective areas. This would ultimately come true in 2016.
2012 – LADY GAGA/SUPER BOWL: In the episode Lisa Goes Gaga, Lady Gaga flies over the audience while attached to cables. Five years later, the pop star performed at at the Halftime show and descended from the stadium’s roof as her massive entrance.
2024: DONALD TRUMP ASSASSINATION ATTEMPT: Following Donald Trump almost being assassinated in July 2024, Channel 4 pulled a repeat of an episode that originally aired in the 90s. The episode featured an active gunman could be seen on the roof of a building as a public gathering took place, similar to the staging at Trump’s rallies.
