Simpsons to end in 2009

SIMPSON'S fans will have to farewell TV's favourite yellow family in 2009 when the last series of the cult cartoon will be broadcast.

Creator Matt Groening says it is increasingly difficult to develop new storylines and wants to axe the show before it becomes boring.

The actors behind the voices of Bart, Homer, Marge, Lisa have signed a deal taking them up to a 19th series in 2008 with Groening hoping to make one more series the following year.

'The show gets harder and harder every year because we are trying to keep surprising the audience, and trying to surprise ourselves', the 50-year-old told British tabloid The Sun.

'I'd love to get to 365 episodes, so there's one for every day of the year with no repeats', he said.

He also hinted some lesser-known characters, such as Bart's mate Milhouse, will get more prominent roles in the future.

'I think we'll see more and more stories about the other characters of Springfield,' he said.