The Simpsons creator Matt Groening has indicated that he plans for the show to stay on the air for many years to come.

Despite some previous indications that the show could be reaching the end, Groening told the New York Times on Sunday that in fact he thinks "the show has almost reached its halfway point, which means another 17 years."

Groening attributed the series' longevity to "a real emotional depth to these characters," adding that the 20th Century Fox studio still seems "pretty happy" with the show.