The Archers Ysanne Churchman, who played Grace, sent them a congratulatory card signed "Grace Archer". In 1996, William Smethurst recounted a conversation with Baseley in which he reveals his real motivation for killing off Grace Archer: Churchman was encouraging the other actors to join a trade union. The actor Norman Painting played Phil Archer continuously from the first trial series in 1950 until his death on 29 October 2009. His last "Archers" performance was recorded just two days before his death, and was broadcast on 22 November. He is cited in "Guinness World Records" as the longest-serving actor in a single soap
Andy Archer (radio presenter) subsequently worked for several commercial stations, including DevonAir, Centre Radio, County Sound and Ireland's Radio Nova and Radio ERI. At Nova, he was the programme director. In the 1980s he also returned to working for Radio Caroline and later Radio Orwell for periods, before in 1990 becoming programme controller at Invicta Supergold. In 1996, Archer made the move to working for the BBC, presenting programmes for BBC Radio Suffolk. The following year he moved to its sister station BBC Radio Norfolk, where he presented shows such as "The Morning Mix" and later, from 2002, "Drive Live". In 2003 he returned