Prime
Minister Tony Blair has made a guest appearance in The Simpsons,
which was shown in the US on Sunday.
He's faced Jeremy Paxman, Trevor McDonald, and Radio 1 listeners.
Now the PM has faced the toughest of them all - millions of devout
American cult cartoon fans.
Tony Blair gets just over 50 seconds in the Simpsons episode
that will be shown in the UK in January.
In blue suit, two-inch Tony meets Bart and family at Heathrow.
"Hello, welcome to the United Kingdom" is the first
thing you hear him say.
He recorded the script in secret at Downing Street back in April,
just weeks after the war started.
Playing chief salesman for the country he goes on to tell Homer
to take the kids to Stratford upon Avon and Parliament.
"You Americans love castles," he says to Homer, "there's
a huge one in Edinburgh, the city where I was born."
It may not be Oscar winning but it is a PR masterstroke.
This is a 50-year-old politician doing his best to appear far
from the usual stiff, boring image most have of politicians.
Other famous Brits pop up during the disastrous tour that takes
in Harrods and the London Eye - JK Rowling and Sir Ian McKellan
play themselves.
Even though Downing Street got script approval there are rumours
one line caused problems; the family are stuck on saying: "I'm
acting the way America acts best, unilaterally."
Although Number 10 denies any interference, that dig at George
Bush's disdain for diplomacy may have been the reason this wasn't
shown until after the US President's UK trip was over.
At the end of the episode Homer is seen trying to escape from
the Tower of London after a nasty face off at the palace, but
the Queen lets him off.
(Agencies)
Updated: 2003-11-26 01:00
