Key Points

• Harry Shearer has said he has never watched The Simpsons, despite voicing several of its most recognisable characters.
• He remains the voice of Mr Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner.
• Shearer described the series as “up and down” over the last 20 years, but said he still enjoys playing the characters.
• He singled out Mr Burns as his favourite role, calling “pure evil” a gift to perform.
• He said the early recording days were more enjoyable because the cast worked together in the same room.
• Shearer is also helping bring Here Comes J Edgar! to the stage in north London, with the show opening at the King’s Head Theatre on 10 July.
• The project began as a radio play in 1994 and has now been adapted into a stage musical comedy.

North London (North London News) July 1, 2026 — Harry Shearer has said he has never watched The Simpsons, even though he has spent decades voicing some of the animated series’ best-known characters, in comments that came as his stage project Here Comes J Edgar! prepared to open in north London.

As reported by the unnamed writer of the supplied source, Shearer said he does not know whether the show’s 1990s peak has aged well because he has not seen it.

He still voices Mr Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner, making his distance from the programme more striking than a routine remark about a long-running hit.

The veteran actor’s comments place his relationship with the show in an unusual position. He remains closely attached to the voices that helped define

The Simpsons, but he has deliberately stayed away from the viewing habit that millions of fans have maintained for years.

What did Harry Shearer say about The Simpsons?

Shearer said he had not seen the programme when asked about its longevity. He added that the series had been “up and down” over the past 20 years, but said he still enjoyed “playing all these characters”.

The remark suggests a separation between the work of performing the voices and the act of following the finished episodes as a viewer.

He also said he has been publicly critical of The Simpsons over the last 20 years, but he did not link that criticism to any intention to quit. Instead, he said:

“No, I still enjoy playing all these characters.”

That line is central to understanding his stance: the appeal, for him, remains the acting rather than the watching.

Why is Mr Burns his favourite role?

Shearer singled out Mr Burns as his favourite Simpsons character. He said,

“Pure evil is always best. When you play it, it’s a gift,”

showing that he values the part because of its sharpness and comic range.

The comment also underlines why the character has endured for so long. Mr Burns gives Shearer a role with a distinctive voice, clear personality and strong comic identity, all of which make it one of the most recognisable jobs in television animation.

What did he say about early recording sessions?

Shearer said the early days of The Simpsons were more enjoyable because the voice cast recorded together in the same room.

He said he liked the idea of having variety across different characters, and added that he still likes that aspect of the work now.

That memory matters because it points to how the production process shaped the show’s early energy. Recording together created a different rhythm from the more isolated modern approach, and Shearer clearly sees that change as part of the programme’s evolution.

What is Here Comes J Edgar!?

Here Comes J Edgar! is a stage musical comedy opening on 10 July at the King’s Head Theatre in north London. The piece was originally a one-off radio play from 1994, later revived for the stage with music by Peter Maltz.

Shearer co-wrote the production with Tom Leopold. Bryan Batt stars as J Edgar Hoover, giving the show a central performance built around a historical figure who remains widely recognisable. The move from radio to stage also gives the project a longer creative life than its original format suggested.

Why does the timing matter?

The timing is notable because Shearer is speaking about one long-running work while helping launch another.

On one side, he remains attached to a major animated series that has lasted for decades; on the other, he is bringing an older character-driven project back into public view in north London.

That contrast makes his comments more than a casual interview remark. They show an actor who continues to work inside a famous franchise while also pursuing separate projects that allow him to shape different kinds of performance.

Background of the development

Harry Shearer is one of the most familiar voice actors linked to The Simpsons, with a long-running role that includes Mr Burns, Waylon Smithers, Ned Flanders and Principal Skinner.

His latest comments fit into a broader pattern of him being open about his distance from watching the show while continuing to perform in it.

Here Comes J Edgar! has its own history, beginning as a 1994 radio play before being adapted for the stage. Its new north London run brings together that earlier material, Shearer’s writing partnership with Tom Leopold and a theatre production led by Bryan Batt.

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Prediction

For The Simpsons audience, Shearer’s remarks are unlikely to change the show itself, but they may renew interest in how much long-running voice actors engage with the programmes they help create.

For north London theatre audiences, the comments could draw extra attention to Here Comes J Edgar! because they connect a major television name with a live stage production opening at the King’s Head Theatre.

For readers who follow entertainment news, the development may also reinforce a broader pattern: performers often remain committed to long-running roles even when their personal relationship with the finished work is complicated. In this case, that tension may help both stories retain attention — the television legacy and the stage revival.