Phil Archer Phil Archer Philip Walter Archer is a fictional character from the British BBC Radio 4 soap opera "The Archers", played by Norman Painting. He made his first appearance on 29 May 1950, the show's pilot episode. The character later became the longest serving male character in the series. His longevity gave him something of the status of a 'patriarch' in Ambridge. Norman Painting joined the cast as Phil Archer, the "handsome" son of Dan (Harry Oakes) and Doris Archer (Gwen Berryman), for the show's pilot episode broadcast on the BBC Midlands Home Service on 29 May 1950, he stayed on
Paul Mayhew-Archer Paul Mayhew-Archer Paul Mayhew-Archer (born 6 January 1953) is a British writer, producer and script editor for the BBC. Before becoming a script writer for the BBC, Mayhew-Archer worked in radio as a producer of comedy programmes including "I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue", and before that as an English teacher. His most notable works are "The Vicar of Dibley" (main co-writer with Richard Curtis, the series' creator) and "My Hero" (main co-writer with creator Paul Mendelson), although he has also script-edited "Old Harry's Game" (which he also produces), "Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps", "Grownups", "Home