“The Simpsons” has never limited itself to movie stars or famous musicians in casting its guest roles. British Prime Minister Tony Blair, physicist Stephen Hawking and reclusive author Thomas Pynchon are among those who have lent their voices to the long-running show.

Now, apparently, the Archbishop of Canterbury wants to get in on the act.

Rowan Williams, the worldwide head of the 70-million-member Anglican Church, is a self-proclaimed fan of the Fox cartoon. And while Williams hasn’t formally been offered a guest role, “Simpsons” executive producer Al Jean says he would “love to have him on the show.”

“It’s a great thrill that the archbishop is such a fan,” Jean tells London’s Sunday Times newspaper. “In the beginning, some religious groups in the United States disliked the show, so to have such a prominent religious leader defend it is great.”

A spokesman for the archbishop says doing a guest shot on “The Simpsons” would be “a very intriguing prospect” that Williams would consider seriously.

Williams praises the show in an interview with Britain’s ITV scheduled for broadcast Sunday. “It’s generally on the side of the angels and on the side of sense,” he says of the show. “It punctures lots of pompous fictions about how the world works.”

“The Simpsons” will begin its 16th season on Fox in the fall.