The Simpsons finally clears up 35-year-old Homer mystery that's been confusing fans since first episode

The way Homer has been an hilariously s**tty employee for 35 years without losing his job has been confusing fans since the start.

Everyone knows that The Simpsons isn't a chronological TV show, given that Maggie has been chewing on a dummy from 1989 to 2024.

And even with it being the longest-running American scripted primetime series of all time, it is pretty incredible how Matt Groening and the lads have made it to season 36.

But as long as The Simpsons keep predicting the future - from Cypress Hill and the London Symphony Orchestra to the 'Hawk Tuah' girl - the cartoon show isn't going anywhere.

In the latest episode, which aired over the weekend, we finally learn how Homer (voiced by Dan Castellaneta) continues to keep his job at Mr Burns' (Harry Shearer) nuclear power plant in 'sector 7G'.

Taking to X, producer Al Jean explained that it's something he's wondered for years, writing: "Tonight new @thesimpsons with long running mystery solved at this point in the show."

It seems that Homer will never be fired from the nuclear power plant (Fox)

Now, the episode called 'Shoddy Heat' reveals that Homer’s father Abe (also voiced by Castellaneta) worked as a detective in the 1980s.

He worked alongside partner Billy O’Donnell (voiced by guest star Topher Grace), who goes missing after investigating the corrupt Mr Burns.

When Grandpa Simpson finally confronts Mr Burns, the power plant boss says that O’Donnell has gone to 'paradise'.

An angry Abe then strikes a deal with Burns and promises that he will stop looking for his partner if he will give Homer a job when he grows up.

That's when Mr Burns promises to never fire Homer, no matter how badly he messes up.

It seems Mr Burns knew all along (Fox)

He says that even if Homer messes up '742 times', he will not be fired.

When Homer finds this out, he is obviously delighted, knowing he will never lose his job.

Fans will, of course, point out that the Homer has been sacked from power plant on numerous occasions, like in 'Homer's Odyssey', 'Burns Verkaufen der Kraftwerk' and 'Diatribe of a Mad Housewife', but we now know why he keeps coming back.

This comes after executive producer Matt Selman says he's been thinking about the right way to end the show.

Speaking to PEOPLE, the TV writer said: "I just hope it's just a regular episode with no Winky Winky stuff at all.

"Just a great family story, just like a classic story that's just funny and involves the whole family and doesn't feel like it needs to wrap up anything, or change anything, or tie anything up, or be magic, or talk to the audience directly."