The Simpsons: 10 Best Sideshow Bob Episodes

It has been announced that in one of the segments of the upcoming traditional Treehouse of Horror episode of The Simpsons, Springfield's greatest criminal mind Dr Robert Underdunk Terwilliger Jr., otherwise known as Sideshow Bob, will finally achieve his life's wish - killing Bart Simpson!

Although he is now seen as one of the series' biggest villains - perhaps only Mr Burns gives him a run for his money (hey, a Burns-Bob team-up, now there's an idea for an episode) - Bob wasn't always the nefarious criminal we all know and love today. In his very first appearance, he is a silent, dopier-looking character. It was only when Kelsey Grammer was cast that the animators refined Bob's features somewhat (and gave him his unique hairstyle).

He also hasn't always wanted to kill Bart - his first crimes were attempting to frame Krusty for burglary and murder Selma. The idea of Bob's incessant attempts on the brattish ten year old's life only came about in his third episode Cape Feare. The show's writers were inspired by Wile E. Coyote always failing to catch Road Runner.

So in honour of Bob's upcoming finest hour, here are the clownish criminal's 10 greatest appearances.

This episode from 2005 offers something a little bit different with Bob's character - he no longer wants to kill Bart and has settled down with a wife and child. He's also become mayor of a small town in Italy. As you do.

Of course, this state of affairs doesn't last as the Simpsons accidentally expose him for the ex-con that he is thereby losing him his office. He then renews his murderous ways and swears a new vendetta, this time on the whole Simpsons family.

This episode comes bottom of our list as its Italian setting results in it being more of a 'The Simpsons go to...' episode than a Sideshow Bob story. That said, there is enough to like here to keep it above more recent, slightly lacking episodes such as The Man Who Grew Too Much.