Ratings were twice the normal figure for a new episode on Sky One

A total of 2.2 million viewers watched on Sunday, more than double the usual number of viewers for a new edition of the programme.

Gervais voiced the part of a British office manager who lived with Marge Simpson during a reality show.

He was invited to become involved by Simpsons creator Matt Groening, a major fan of Gervais' series The Office.

It was the first time that a British writer had been invited to compose an episode.

Gervais is the first British writer to create an episode of the show

International success

The episode - entitled Homer Simpson: This Is Your Wife - also becomes Sky One's second most-watched programme of all-time.

An episode of Friends from 2000 attracted the digital channel's biggest audience of 2.8m viewers.

The Simpsons is an international hit and is currently in its 17th series in the US.