The Simpsons finally settles Groundskeeper Willie debate once and for all
Posted by  badge Boss on Dec 07, 2023 - 08:16AM
The Simpsons has finally settled a debate about Willie (Picture: Fox)

has finally over the hometown of Groundskeeper Willie .

First introduced on the long-running animated series back in 1991, William MacMoran MacDougal, better known as Groundskeeper Willie, is voiced by Dan Castellaneta.

He is the head groundskeeper and Janitor at Springfield Elementary and is .

The Scotsman has always been incredibly proud of his heritage; however it’s never actually been quite clear exactly where he is from.

Over the years many towns and cities across the country, including Glasgow, Aberdeen and Orkney, have laid claim to being the home of the prickly character.

However, , it’s finally been revealed that he originates from Edinburgh.

The latest episode of the long-running series revealed where he was from in Scotland (Picture: Fox)

In Ae Bonny Romance, the family headed to Scotland in search of the Scots school caretaker who returned to his homeland to be reunited with his long-lost love Maisie, played by Karen Gillan.

But when the Simpsons found him, he revealed he lived in capital before moving to Springfield.

The show went on to light-heartedly poke fun at Scotland and some of the dialect.

In one scene where Inverness-born Karen’s character is asking Willie for a kiss, she said: ‘Give us a smooch ya big ugly bawbag.’

He also met a new love interest, who was played by Karen Gillan (Picture: Fox)

In response, the janitor replied: ‘Aw haud yer wheesht before I boke.’

The episode also saw Lisa take aim at the pretentiousness of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival as she went on a tour of the city.

‘The Fringe Festival, a celebration of theatrical irony and self-awareness. It’s so clever without being good,’ she said.

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The episode also featured Scots Dr Who actor David Tennant playing a whisky distillery owner.

It ended with Homer and Marge committing sacrilege by romping on the Old Course in St Andrews.

Despite Willie’s origins finally being cleared up, back in 2021 writer and showrunner Mike Reiss revealed zero thought went into where he was born.

The entire family flew to Scotland in the episode (Picture: Fox)

‘Forty-five seconds. That’s how much thought went into making Groundskeeper Willie Scottish,’ he said after revealing the character was initially meant to be Hispanic.

‘In one episode we said Willie is from Glasgow and in another we said he’s from Aberdeen. Why? Because we didn’t give a cr**. But people in Glasgow and Aberdeen care deeply,’ he added.

In a 1997 episode Willie referred to himself as Glasgow’s ugliest man but a few years later he woke from a football-themed dream and declared ‘Go Aberdeen.’

Then, in 2012, he suddenly claimed he was from Orkney.

The Simpsons is available to stream on Disney Plus in the UK.