Monty Python legend Michael Palin has confirmed that he’ll be making a guest appearance on The Simpsons during its new season.
The veteran actor and TV presenter spoke about his character while appearing on The One Show this evening (September 29), telling hosts Alex Jones and Chris Ramsey that he’s playing a “wacky” role.
“I’ve recorded my contribution,” he said. “I play a museum curator, he’s a wacky character.”
His role will likely be small, but knowing Michael Palin, it’s bound to be memorable.
The star, who has made a number of travel documentaries, also spoke about the significance of comedy in difficult times, saying that he thinks it is more important than ever to find things to laugh at.
“In dark times you really need comedy,” he said. “They’ve proved that by the comedy that’s been found in the First World War, magazines and jokes… I think it’s very hard to control and I think laughter is a safety valve, and it’s useful that way.”
The latest season of The Simpsons recasts a classic character, with Homer’s nuclear power plant co-worker and friend Carl Carlson now being voiced by The Flash actor Alex Désert.
The character was previously played by long-standing cast member Hank Azaria, who has also stepped down from his role as Kwik-E-Mart manager Apu Nahasapeemapetilon after Fox confirmed in June that the show “will no longer have white actors voice non-white characters”.
