Norman Painting Norman Painting Norman George Painting (23 April 1924 – 29 October 2009) was an English actor, broadcaster and writer. He played Phil Archer in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera "The Archers" from the pilot episodes aired on the BBC Midlands Home Service in summer 1950, after the series went national on the Light Programme on 1 January 1951, until his death in 2009, when he was the longest-serving member of the cast. His last episode, recorded two days before he died, was broadcast on 22 November 2009. The character lived on until Phil was "found dead" in his armchair
Phil Archer for almost 60 years a central figure in one of Radio 4's hallmark programmes. As Phil Archer, he became a wonderful patriarch yet he had started decades earlier as a young romantic hero." Following Painting's death, the producers and scripwriters met to plan Phil's exit storyline. They decided not to kill him off straight away and let him spend Christmas with his family. Painting's final appearance featuring his voice was broadcast on 22 November 2009. Phil was referred to, but never heard since then. On 12 February 2010, Phil's wife, Jill (Patricia Greene), discovered Phil had died at home. Phil