The Simpsons fans have been left heartbroken after a star who voiced a staggering six characters announced their retirement.
Pamela Hayden is due to leave the cast of the classic cartoon after almost 700 episodes, but added that the characters she voiced will "always have a special place in my heart." The 70-year-old will appear in the animation for the last time during its 36th season.
Hayden voiced a number of much-loved characters, from Bart Simpson's best friend Milhouse Van Houten to school bully Jimbo Jones and Ned Flanders' children Rod and Todd. She also provided the voice of Lisa's friend Janey Powell.
READ MORE: Mum with stage 4 cancer warns 'do not fall for biggest lie' she believed about illness
READ MORE: Primark's perfect fluffy jumper will keep you warm all winter – shoppers wowed by price
But in a tribute to the cast and crew of The Simpsons, Hayden said she would miss Milhouse the most, with the character a staple of the supporting roster of characters. In a statement on her retirement, she said: "The time has come for me to hang up my microphone.
"It’s been an honour and a joy to have worked on such a funny, witty, and ground-breaking show... I’ll always have a special place in my heart for that blue-haired 10-year-old boy with glasses. I love the little guy. It’s this wonderful analogy for life."
Fans have since worked out when her last episode voicing Milhouse will release, and there is not long to wait. The Simpsons writer Carolyn Omine took to Twitter/X and wrote: "A beautiful tribute to a beautiful soul. We already miss her.
"One correction: This Sunday is not her final performance. The last show she recorded was 'O C'mon All Ye Faithful' but she appears in 'The Past and the Furious' and 'Yellow Planet' which air after O C'mon."
The fate of Milhouse and Jimbo Jones is yet to be seen but The Simpsons has not shied away from retiring fan favourite characters following the retirement or death of their voice actors. Bart's long-suffering teacher, Edna Krabappel, was a staple of the show for more than two decades but the decision was made to shelve the character after the death of voice actor Marcia Wallace.
The tragic death of Phil Hartman also saw his characters retired, with the infamous Troy McClure and memorably useless lawyer Lionel Hutz both removed from the show following his death in 1998. Hutz could sometimes be spotted in the background of the show but has rarely been used as a lead or supporting character since.
Some fan favourites like Apu Nahasapeemapetilon, while not retired, have been given much less screentime in recent seasons as the writing team shifts toward dependable characters voiced by the main cast - Nancy Cartwright, Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria and Harry Shearer.
English (US) ·