The Simpsons fans mourn ‘end of an era’ after Channel 4 axe-Pierra Willix-Entertainment – Metro

The Simpsons nightly episodes on Channel 4 are set to end (Picture: 20thCentFox/ Everett/ Rex/ Shutterstock)

After 20 years on air, The Simpsons will be leaving Channel 4.

The American animated sitcom has been running since 1989, with 777 episodes of the show broadcast to date.

Each night at 6.30pm viewers have tuned in to Channel 4 to watch the series, however that is set to come to an end next month.

Now, new episodes will instead stream exclusively on Disney Plus first.

However free-to-air TV will still receive some The Simpsons episodes, however they will be a few seasons behind.

In January, E4 will become the only home of the show on linear TV, with episodes from season 32 airing on that channel.

The animated series first aired in 1989 with a Christmas episode (Picture: 20thCentFox/ Everett/ Rex/ Shutterstock)

After that, episodes will be available to stream on Channel 4’s online platform for a ‘limited time’ but will eventually only be available on Disney’s paid-for platform.

New episodes from season 36 will air in spring at the same time as the US.

Every episode of The Simpsons is already on Disney Plus, as well as the 2007 film The Simpsons Movie.

The news was announced this week on the show’s 35th anniversary after it premiered with a Christmas episode on December 17, 1989. It has aired on Channel 4 since 2004.

Responding to the news, many fans weighed in.

‘End of an era,’ Julio posted on X.

‘Couldn’t tell the last time I actually watched The Simpsons on Channel 4 but this is insane,’ Madz shared.

Viewers have said it’s ‘the end of an era’ (Picture: 20thCentFox/ Everett/ Rex/ Shutterstock)

‘Yikes – these cutbacks at Channel 4 really impacting. Like #Hollyoaks, #TheSimpsons had been a staple of their teatime offering,’ MCR_Sev added.

Channel 4 has said the collaboration with Disney ‘embraces the generational shift that is taking place in TV viewing to reach younger viewers, who engage with both the popular entertainment channel E4, and streaming platforms’.

‘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,’ Channel 4’s head of acquisitions Polly Scates said.

‘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 Plus.’

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