Beckham 'not famous enough' for The Simpsons

When the Beckhams approached The Simpsons creators for a cameo they were refused.

David Beckham was refused a role in The Simpsons because he wasn't famous enough.

The soccer star – who lives in Los Angeles with his wife, former Spice Girls singer-turned-fashion designer Victoria Beckham, and their three sons – approached the creators of the hit US animated comedy series to make a cameo appearance but was turned down as show chiefs didn't feel Americans knew enough about him.

Al Jean, the show's principal writer and executive producer, said: "We get a lot of requests from celebrities, and it's always a shame when we have to turn people down.

"We had a request from David Beckham and I had to phone him up and tell him sorry but I didn't want him on the show right now. I didn't think he was a big enough star for an American audience.

"I got a lot of grief about that. Some people got really angry about it and I was told, 'I bet you would have put George Best on.' I can pretty much say I would have turned him down too."

David isn't the only star to have left the team behind The Simpsons unimpressed, with Rolling Stones rocker Mick Jagger's diva-like attitude leaving many unhappy when he recorded a guest role.

Actor Hank Azaria, who voices characters including Chief Wiggum, Apu and Moe, revealed to Live magazine: "They sent me down to greet Mick Jagger when he arrived to record his part, and I said, 'Hey, Mick, we're thrilled to have you here.' And he kind of blew right by me like I was the greeter, and went, all dismissively, 'Yeah, we'll get it.' It made me a little bit annoyed. I knew it was going to get awkward, because I was about to walk upstairs and record with him."

- BANG! SHOWBIZ