The Simpsons - The Simpsons' Harry Shearer Has Pay Proposal Rejected

The longrunning series faces being axed next year (12) because the hit show is becoming too expensive to produce.

The key castmembers, including Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith, each receive around $400,000 (£259,000)-per-episode, which executives at Fox want to reduce by 45 per cent.

Shearer, who voices the character Mr. Burns, insists he has already offered to bow to Fox chiefs' demands, but only if they agree to give the show's stars a share of the profits they rake in annually from merchandising and other related ventures.

However, Shearer claims his proposal was rejected, adding, "(There are) simply no circumstances under which the network would consider allowing me or any of the actors to share in the show’s success."

The Simpsons debuted on U.S. TV in 1989.