Cartoon cowell returns to simpsons

Simon Cowell is set to return to The Simpsons for a second cameo role, despite branding his last animated experience "embarrassing and intimidating."

The American Idol judge admitted he didn't have a good time when he lent his voice to a cartoon character etched in his likeness in 2004, but has signed to make another appearance in an new episode.

Cringing over his last stint on the show, he remembers, "They obviously hated me as I had to do it over and over again. I could actually feel the rolling of eyeballs. It was like, 'After take 57 Simon could we have a little more reality'. It was painful."

Cowell will play a grumpy character who upsets young Maggie Simpson, angering her dad Homer in the show.

He adds, "Surprisingly, I was an a**shole and got to behave like an a**shole. That was really out of character. I was very happy to do that. I criticised the daughter and she cries so Homer punches me in the face and I criticise the punch because it wasn't a very good punch."

The episode will air on 11 January (10).