One of the world’s best loved comedy shows depicting one of America’s most loved families has reached a new milestone: The Simpsons has broadcast its 600th episode. The show, which follows the exploits of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie, is only one of two shows that has reached this impressive number.

The SimpsonsAmerica's most-loved family has broacast its 600th episode 

The latest episode was shown in the US and was a Halloween special, making the show the second-longest only to Gunsmoke - which ran for 20 seasons and 635 episodes.

The Simpsons has more seasons to its name but fewer episodes.

MORE: Mr Smithers Will Finally Come Out As Gay In New 'Simpsons' Episode

Treehouse of Horror XXVI - the show’s annual scary October outing - was the record-breaking episode and included parodies of The Hunger Games and Colin Frith’s film, Kingsman.

The Simpsons began as a series of shorts in 1987 as part of the Tracey Ullman show.

It proved popular with viewers and was commissioned as a series of its own in December 1989.

MORE: Homer Simpson Answers Questions About Donald Trump As 'The Simpsons' Goes Live

Simpsons’ creator Matt Groening developed the yellow family based on his own family, using their own names and substituting Bart’s name for his.

The show’s latest season, season 28, began in September 2016 and it has been revealed a special hour-long episode of the animated cartoon will be broadcast in 2017.