It seems that selling out vast global tours and shifting records by the ton isn’t enough to rubber stamp a band’s status as a true great. However what does set the big boys apart from the rest is being deemed worthy to be written into the script for an episode of hit American TV cartoon, The Simpsons. Cameo appearances have become a significant part of the show’s appeal over the years, and along with an assortment of athletes and movie stars, some of the world’s most stellar musicians have been featured. The likes of U2, The Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, REM, Metallica, The Who, The Ramones, Smashing Pumpkins and even spoof rockers Spinal Tap have all been immortalized in the show.

And now British stadium sensation Coldplay will be joining those elite ranks. The episode, called “Million Dollar Baby,” has just been screened in the USA and will be shown in Britain in May of this year on Sky 1. It features the band with the cartoon’s trademark yellow skin colour, playing a private stadium gig for Homer and Bart after Homer decides to hire the band following a million dollar lottery jackpot win. Midway through their song Viva La Vida the band are halted so that Bart can use the toilet, while Homer turns down an offer to play the tambourine.

Behind the scenes footage on the Fox TV network’s website shows Coldplay lead singer Chris Martin recording his lines for the episode and clearly struggling to keep a straight face, while actor Dan Castellaneta – who voices Homer – gives a series of funny responses to his questions. This is not the singer’s first foray into the world of light entertainment as he has previously made cameo appearances in comedy movie, Shaun of the Dead, which stars his good friend Simon Pegg, and also in Ricky Gervais’ series, Extras.