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
Phil Curtis as well as International television shows such as Germany's Musikladen. The Kiki Dee Band recorded several sessions for BBC Radio and Television. In March 1975 the group were recorded for BBC Radio's "In Concert" series. The band were featured on BBC Sight and Sound on 26 February 1976, performing 12 songs at The Hippodrome in Golders Green, London. In 1976 Phil joined Tiger, founded by London session musician Big Jim Sullivan (who had played on over 750 charting singles and 54 #1 hits during his session career.) Tiger were mostly a studio band though they did appear as support act