The Simpsons meet the Griffins: Fox announces crossover episode for Family Guy and The Simpsons

The two families will meet in autumn 2014

Two of the biggest cartoon comedies of all time will team up next year for a special crossover episode.

The Simpsons and Family Guy's Griffin family - both shows being owned by Fox - will meet in autumn 2014.

The network announced that the Griffins will end up in Springfield, where they and the Simpsons will "get along famously" and Homer will welcome "his new 'albino' friends with open arms.”

In a preview of what fans can expect, a statement read: "Stewie becomes obsessed with Bart and his old-fashioned pranks; Lisa takes Meg under her wing and is determined to find something – anything – at which she excels; Marge and Lois ditch housework for a little bonding; and Peter and Homer fight over the best beer in town – Pawtucket vs Duff."

It is, as yet, unknown how family pets Brian Griffin and Santa's Little Helper will hit it off, whilst one can only wonder how a meeting between Glenn Quagmire and Ned Flanders would end.

It won't be the first time the two cartoon universes have collided - The Simpsons joked about Peter Griffin's derivation from their main character by putting him in a crowd of identical Homer clones.

And during an the opening credits of a Family Guy episode, Stewie Griffin ran over and possibly killed Homer Simpson in his trike - whereupon Peter Griffin said: "Who the hell is that?"

Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane also guested on an episode of The Simpsons earlier this year (2013).