Archbishop 'may star in Simpsons'

Dr Williams is a self-confessed Simpsons fan

Archbishop of Canterbury Dr Rowan Williams would look "very seriously" at an invitation to appear on animated comedy The Simpsons.

The Sunday Times reported the show's producers were poised to invite the head of the Church of England on to the animated show.

Dr Williams has admitted he is a big fan of the show.

"We'd look at it very seriously - it would be a very interesting thing to do," his spokesman told the BBC.

Dr Williams gave an interview to ITV1's My Favourite Hymns saying the programme was "on the side of the angels", the Sunday Times reported.

'A lot of merit'

Dr Williams has previously publicly announced his support for the show, and its accident-prone star, Homer Simpson.

The Simpsons producer Al Jean reportedly said they had been flattered by Dr Williams' support and "we'd love to have him on the show".

The archbishop's spokesman told BBC News Online on Sunday that no invitation had yet been made, but Dr Williams "had said a lot of positive things about the show, and it has a lot of merit.

The Simpsons is one of the biggest shows on US TV

"It would be a very interesting proposal," he said.

The hit animated show, which has run for 15 years, has become famous for having stars voice their animated likenesses.

Pop Idol judge Simon Cowell recently appeared on the show.

Prime Minister Tony Blair also made an appearance in the animated show last year.

Other household names to have appeared as themselves in the show include U2, the Rolling Stones, Sir Paul McCartney, Leonard Nimoy, Mel Gibson and Sting.