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
The Archers (album) The Archers (album) The Archers was the first nationally released major label album for The Archers. Originally released as Any Day Now in 1972 on their independent Charisma Records label, it garnered the group almost immediate national attention and launched them on to the national stage. Issued before radio charts for Jesus music or Contemporary Christian music were established, it included the hits, "Life In Jesus", "Jesus Is The Answer" and "God's Love". On the strength of the album, The Archers appeared at Explo '72 in the summer of that year, and on to other major concert appearances at Madison