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
Ruth Archer alongside him at Brookfield in 1987." On 18 November 2005, Finch and six of her co-stars appeared as their respective characters on the BBC's "Children in Need" broadcast, alongside presenter Terry Wogan. Ruth joined her husband, David, and friend, Lynda Snell (Carole Boyd), in one of three scenes written especially for the show. Ruth's renowned way of saying "ooooh nooooh" has been frequently parodied on the comedy programme "Dead Ringers". Bibliography Ruth Archer Ruth Archer (also Pritchard) is a fictional character from the British BBC Radio 4 soap opera "The Archers", played by English actress Felicity Finch. She made her