Work resumes on 16th series

The cast of The Simpsons have resolved their pay dispute with makers Fox TV.

Production is set to resume shortly on the 16th season of the show after the actors reportedly backed down on their demands.

Cast members had wanted to almost triple their salary to $8million (£4.5million) for the 22-episode season ­ with a share of the profits.

But producers had thought their demands 'extravagant' considering the high cost of writing and animating each season.

Terms of the deal they finally agreed have not been revealed, although the New York Times says the actors backed down after Fox threatened to pull the plug on the entire series.

Meanwhile, Fox told Hollywood trade paper Variety: "We couldn't be happier to have reached a multi-year deal with the enormously talented cast of The Simpsons."

The studio said it was optimistic the full 2004-05 season could be finished, despite earlier fears the dispute would disrupt production.

A spokesman for the cast of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Hank Azaria, Harry Shearer, Yeardley Smith and Nancy Cartwright said they had no comment.

Published: 1 May 2004