1. Ralph Wiggum
Easily the most eminently quotable of all Simpsons' characters, even outstripping most (if not all) of the main cast of major characters, the youngest member of the wonderful Wiggum clan genuinely steals every scene he is in, thanks to some generous writing and Nancy Cartwright's brilliant vocal performance. Ralph is an idiot, spewing nonsense like a Catherine Wheel, but he is infinitely forgivable because he is utterly charming, and his naivety is never really exploited by other characters. His one-liners are legendary, and it's easy to see his comedy genetics belonging in the same pool as Brick from Anchorman and a long line of harmless, dim-witted characters from comic history. He is the epitome of the comic clown, without the burden of self-awareness or of knowledge spoiling his gloriously funny innocence, and his relationship with his father is the stuff of comedy dreams, making Homer Simpson look like Bill Cosby by comparison. The greatest achievement of the writers behind Ralph is that he never commands sympathy unless it is completely intended - as with the episode when Lisa spectacularly dumps him - he are invited to unreservedly laugh at him, without any guilt, because he is an oddball as well as being comically limited in his mental faculties. And that foundation allows for some stunning moments of philosophy, like Karl Pilkington, where Ralph is beautifully, unexpectedly profound.
Selected Quote: "Me fail English? That's unpossible." Who is your favourite supporting character from The Simpsons? Share your picks below in the comments.