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Tough Janitor Tells of Traumatic Childhood in the Orkney Islands

Simpsons star Groundskeeper Willie is set to reveal the secret of his Scottish origins in the popular cartoon show later this month when he tells Bart he is from Kirkwall in Orkney.

The school janitor sounds like he is from Scotland's Central Belt and Glasgow City Council has claimed him as one of its own sons, but in fact writer Rob LaZebnik says Willie is an Orcadian.

He said: "In an episode Bart and his schoolfriend Millhouse are unmasking myths and legends at their school. They decide to create a new myth that Groundskeeper Willie is a werewolf.

"Willie goes along with this but says there is one thing he does want to clear up. Everyone thinks he is from Edinburgh or Glasgow, but the truth is that he is from Kirkwall in Orkney.

"Willie's origins have always been kinda shifty. He is frequently changing his story. But we liked the idea for once of him saying that he is not from one of those big cities.

"We went online, as we frequently do, and we spent a lot of time looking at cities in Scotland and we came across Kirkwall. We came across the Kirkwall Ba' and we saw the YouTube of the Ba' game and it all seemed to mesh perfectly with Willie."

In the episode due to be broadcast in the US on February 12, Willie reveals his family played on opposing sides in the famous street football game the Ba'. His father was a Doonie and his mother an Uppie which 'tore his family apart'

"Willie loves aggression and we felt like the Ba' game would be a good way of bringing some of that out."

The Ba' is played in the streets of Kirkwall, famous for jewellery designers, on Christmas and New Year's days.

And the lack of the Orcadian accent? "I wish we'd had the time and resources 20 years ago to look up the Orcadian accent," said Mr LaZebnik.

Willie's antics in the Simpsons courted controversy just over a year ago when he was drawn knocking back the booze in the school library with what appeared to be a bottle of Buckfast while singing to the tune of "Loch Lomond".

UK Parliamentary Motion Tabled

Liam McArthur, MSP for Orkney has lodged a Parliamentary Motion about Willie's roots as Glasgow City Council has previously claimed him as one of its sons.

Mr McArthur said: "We know that those with Orkney roots are to be found far and wide across the globe. It should come as no surprise then that the Orkney diaspora has even reached Springfield USA.

"I was concerned to note, however, that Glasgow City Council have made moves to claim Groundskeeper Willie as one of their own by listing him as an 'alleged' son of their city. In light of recent, incontrovertible evidence and to avoid any future confusion, I have written to the Leader of Glasgow City Council, requesting that they renounce the claim on their website, and in any other relevant materials. A Parliamentary Motion has also been lodged to this effect."