Phil Archer when the show began airing nationally on 1 January 1951. During his time with "The Archers", Painting wrote a best-selling book entitled "Forever Ambridge" and wrote over a thousand scripts for the show between 1966 and 1982. Painting was later inducted into the Guinness World Records for being the longest-serving actor, without a break, in a single soap opera. In later years, Painting's appearances on the show became limited due to his ill health. On 29 October 2009, two days after he had gone to the recording studio, Painting died. BBC Radio 4 controller, Mark Damazer, said "Norman Painting was
Phil Harding (BBC executive) He is the author of a report for Oxfam on international coverage and the future of U.K. public broadcasting – The Great Global Switch Off. He also writes for the Guardiannewspaper. Harding has won numerous Sony Gold awards for radio and an Emmy for television in the United States. He is a Trustee of the Press Association and of the One World Broadcasting Trust. He is a Fellow of the Society of Editors and of the Radio Academy. Phil Harding (BBC executive) Phil Harding is a journalist, broadcaster and media consultant. Previously he was a producer, editor and senior executive