The airing of “Last Exit to Springfield” during a nationwide strike day was coincidental, according to Channel 4.

Channel 4 faced a wave of praise from viewers after it broadcasted the iconic Simpsons episode, Last Exit to Springfield, on a day of significant industrial action in the UK. The episode, which is seen as one of the show’s finest, features Homer Simpson leading a workers’ strike at the power plant in defence of their dental plan. Despite the thematic connection to the day’s events, the broadcaster confirmed that the timing was purely coincidental.

The episode aired at 6pm on Walkout Wednesday, which saw thousands of workers across the UK take part in a large-scale strike, marking the largest industrial action in the country in over ten years. With disputes over pay, jobs, and working conditions, the strike led to school closures and picket lines at railway stations, universities, and government buildings.

Viewers quickly drew parallels between the Simpsons storyline and the day’s widespread protests. One Twitter user, Alex Ramsden, remarked on the episode’s fitting nature, while others expressed their approval of Channel 4’s decision to air the strike-themed episode.

Channel 4, however, clarified that there was no deliberate connection between the day’s industrial action and the scheduled broadcast. Despite the coincidence, many saw the choice as an apt reflection of the ongoing struggle for workers’ rights.