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
In the Red (radio series) the Chair" (BBC Radio 4, 1998), and "In the End" (BBC Radio 4, 1999), as well as the TV production of In the Red (BBC Two, 1998), were featured in their own spin-off series "Absolute Power" (BBC Radio 4, 2000-2006/BBC Two, 2003-2005), which was also created and written by Tavener. In the Red is a seven-part BBC Radio 4 black comedy-crime drama series adapted by Mark Tavener and Peter Baynham from Tavener's novel of the same name (Hutchinson, 1989), and produced by Paul Schlesinger. The story features BBC Reporter George Cragge, played by Michael Williams, and Police Superintendent Frank Jefferson,