Archers actor dies

Norman Painting, who played Philip Archer in the much-loved radio show The Archers since its trial run in 1950, has died aged 85, the BBC said yesterday. Mr Painting was also a scriptwriter on the BBC Radio 4 programme from 1966 to 1982 and wrote 1,198...

Norman Painting, who played Philip Archer in the much-loved radio show The Archers since its trial run in 1950, has died aged 85, the BBC said yesterday.

Mr Painting was also a scriptwriter on the BBC Radio 4 programme from 1966 to 1982 and wrote 1,198 scripts.

Born in Leamington Spa, Mr Painting was credited with being the longest-serving actor in a single soap opera.

In recent years his appearances on The Archers became more limited as he suffered poor health. He was last heard on the show in September.

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