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
BBC Radio Berkshire Reading. During off-peak hours, BBC Radio Berkshire also carries regional programmes for the South and South East regions, produced from sister stations BBC Radio Solent, BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Oxford. As with all BBC Local Radio stations, it also airs the networked weekday evening shows, originating from BBC Radio Leeds and produced independently by Wire Free Productions. During the station's downtime, BBC Radio Berkshire simulcasts BBC Radio 5 Live overnight. The station's weekday presenters include Steve Madden (early) Andrew Peach (breakfast), Sarah Walker (Monday - Thursday mornings), Tony Blackburn (Friday mornings), Bill Buckley (afternoons) and Phil Kennedy (drivetime).