The Simpsons has reached a major television milestone with the broadcast of its 500th episode on Sunday.

The family is exiled from Springfield to a community of outsiders where they meet Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

Fox TV said Assange recorded his lines from the UK, where he is fighting extradition to Sweden over alleged sex offences - charges he denies.

The animated comedy is in its 23rd season, making it the longest-running prime-time scripted programme on TV.

The show is contracted to run for another two seasons, which will bring it to 559 episodes.

In the 500th episode, entitled At Long Last Leave, the Simpsons sneak into a secret town hall meeting and hear they are about to be thrown out of town.

The complaints against them include the usual: Bart's antics and Homer's boorishness. But in a twist, Marge's niceness is also cited.

They find a welcome in "the Outlands", where Assange is their neighbour.

Bart asks: "How ya doin', Mr. Assange?"

Assange replies: "That's my personal information, and you have no right to know about it."

Previous guest voices on the programme have included former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, graffiti artist Banksy and novelist Thomas Pynchon.

While still popular, critics say the show has faded from its former glory during the 1990s and now regularly rehashes themes from past episodes

source:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17092968