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
The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series) now digitally remastered, was also included with "The Return of the King" set, with a demo of John Le Mesurier singing "Bilbo's Last Song" included as a bonus track. The 13-episode series was also rerun on Radio 4 in 2002. The series has not been heard on the digital BBC archive station BBC Radio 4 Extra, despite frequent requests, reportedly because of copyright issues. The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series) In 1981 BBC Radio 4 produced a dramatisation of J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings" in 26 half-hour stereo installments. The novel had previously been