Simpsons show runner Al Jean has all but confirmed that Krusty the Clown or his father Rabbi Hyman Krustofski is the "major character" the show will be killing off this season, revealing that the death episode will be title 'A Clown in the Dumps'.

After years of forced fun, whiskey and disillusionment, it looks as though the clown might take his final bow, a death that would probably hit Bart the hardest given how many times the pair have teamed up to take on Sideshow Bob and for general hijinks.

Jean said at a Television Critics Association panel on Sunday that his clues have been "obvious" as to which character dies, adding to gasps from the audience: "It's called A Clown in the Dumps."

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He said that the character's voice actor has won an Emmy for his work on the show, so we can't rule out Krusty's father Hyman Krustofski (Jackie Mason) or Sideshow Bob (Kelsey Grammer) however, with both actors having won awards for their contributions.

The rabbi might not be a "major character", but Jean did recently admit that the Springfield resident who dies isn't "iconic".

"The character that dies is portrayed by an actor who won an Emmy for playing that character," he previously told TV Line.

"People who reported on it then reported we were killing an 'iconic' character; I’d like to say it’s a great character, but I never used the word 'iconic'.

"It’s a terrific character and it [happens in] our premiere this coming year.'

Shape Created with Sketch. Who might die on The Simpsons? Show all 8 left Created with Sketch. right Created with Sketch. Shape Created with Sketch. Who might die on The Simpsons? 1/8 Krusty the Clown For how much longer Krusty will be yelling 'Hey hey kids!' remains to be seen. This cynical, smoking, has-been clown hosts Bart, Lisa and Maggie's all-time favourite TV show but he could be headed for the chop. 2/8 Sideshow Bob Sideshow Bob has long been Bart Simpson's nemesis, so could it be that Homer's boy finally exacts his revenge and kills him? Bob has tried to murder Bart many a time, so perhaps this fate would only be fair... 3/8 Abe Simpson Grampa or Abe Simpson is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. He is Homer's dad and a World War II verteran. Grampa is getting on a bit so him dying could arguably make the most sense. We'd miss his rambling, often made-up stories though. 4/8 Bart Simpson Bumping off Bart Simpson would be a highly dubious decision, but he is in the running as Nancy Cartwright won an Emmy for voicing him in 1992. 5/8 Barney Gumble Springfield's town drunk, Barney is Homer's best friend (of course). He can be found in Moe's bar, always. At least there'd be fewer burps on the show if Barney proves a goner. 6/8 Louie Louie, seen pictured left with Legs, is a member of the Springfield mafia. Louie always does what his boss Fat Tony says and will kill whomever he needs to. Maybe Louie will get a taste of his own medicine. 7/8 Marge Simpson If Marge leaves The Simpsons, a lot of fans won't be happy, but she fits the criteria so we've kept her in the running. What would Homer do without her? 8/8 Here's hoping... ...that this happy yellow family can stay together in one piece. AP / FOX 1/8 Krusty the Clown For how much longer Krusty will be yelling 'Hey hey kids!' remains to be seen. This cynical, smoking, has-been clown hosts Bart, Lisa and Maggie's all-time favourite TV show but he could be headed for the chop. 2/8 Sideshow Bob Sideshow Bob has long been Bart Simpson's nemesis, so could it be that Homer's boy finally exacts his revenge and kills him? Bob has tried to murder Bart many a time, so perhaps this fate would only be fair... 3/8 Abe Simpson Grampa or Abe Simpson is voiced by Dan Castellaneta. He is Homer's dad and a World War II verteran. Grampa is getting on a bit so him dying could arguably make the most sense. We'd miss his rambling, often made-up stories though. 4/8 Bart Simpson Bumping off Bart Simpson would be a highly dubious decision, but he is in the running as Nancy Cartwright won an Emmy for voicing him in 1992. 5/8 Barney Gumble Springfield's town drunk, Barney is Homer's best friend (of course). He can be found in Moe's bar, always. At least there'd be fewer burps on the show if Barney proves a goner. 6/8 Louie Louie, seen pictured left with Legs, is a member of the Springfield mafia. Louie always does what his boss Fat Tony says and will kill whomever he needs to. Maybe Louie will get a taste of his own medicine. 7/8 Marge Simpson If Marge leaves The Simpsons, a lot of fans won't be happy, but she fits the criteria so we've kept her in the running. What would Homer do without her? 8/8 Here's hoping... ...that this happy yellow family can stay together in one piece. AP / FOX

At the panel, Jean told how the character will get a death fitting of its importance to the show.

"It turned out bigger than we thought it was going to be," he explained, but hinted there won't be a mass cull as he added: "It's not going to be this blood bath where they all get murdered."

The Simpsons will return for its latest season on 28 September with a Family guy crossover episode.

Family Guy producers were also at the panel and revealed that they pretty much have a carte blanche for the episode, with The Simpsons team giving them only a few notes, so expect it to be in the tone of the slightly more caustic cartoon.