Bart Simpson will be killed this year

Sideshow Bob will finally kill Bart Simpson this year.

Spoiler alert: This story contains Simpsons spoilers.

Sideshow Bob will finally kill Bart Simpson, after several unsuccessful attempts over the last two decades.

But he won't stay dead for long.

Bart will meet his demise in The Simpsons' annual Halloween episode this year. But given the alternate reality of all Treehouse of Horror episodes, his death won't be permanent.

Sideshow Bob in The Simpsons' Cape Feare episode.

Simpsons producers broke the news during their ATX Festival panel in Texas at the weekend.

"I'm one of the people that always wanted to see the Coyote eat the Roadrunner," executive producer Al Jean said.

"I hated frustration comedy, so we'll scratch that itch."

Sideshow Bob, voiced by Kelsey Grammar, first tried to murder Bart in 1993's Cape Feare.

Since then, Bob has gone to great lengths to murder Bart including stealing a 10-megaton nuclear bomb and threatening to blow up Springfield.

- AAP