Channel 4 have dug deep to bag the rights to screen ‘The Simpsons’ which starts this Friday. There was a ferocious bidding war but Channel 4 beat both the BBC and 5 in a deal worth an estimated £700,000 per episode. Creator Matt Groening says they needed the cash after the actors went on strike demanding more pay and landed £4m a year contracts each for four years. Series twelve features guest appearances from The Who, Ed Norton, Drew Barrymore, Michael Keaton, Joshua Jackson and Serena and Venus Williams. Matt says there’s a good reason they like to pepper the shows with big star names: “You know the real reason for doing that is not for ratings or attention, it’s because it just amuses us and the writer want to meet various guest stars. When certain people show up the writers all crowd into the recording studio and get really excited.” Friday is a themed night with two new episodes from series twelve, a documentary called the ‘Ultimate Guide to The Simpsons’ and a comedy quiz.
