Phil Archer
Philip Walter Archer was a fictional character in The Archers, played by Norman Painting (23 April 1924 – 29 October 2009). Of all the characters who were in the first episode of 1951, Phil Archer was the longest serving male character in the series. His longevity gave him something of the status of a 'patriarch' in Ambridge.
Within the narrative of the series, Phil was born on 23 April 1928, the second of three children of Dan and Doris Archer (the oldest being Jack and the youngest being Christine Barford). He attended the Farm Institute to train, but he disappointed Dan by returning to work for local squire George Fairbrother. During this time he met and married the squire's daughter Grace. She died from injuries sustained in a fire in an episode broadcast on 22 September 1955. Two years later, he met Jill Patterson, to whom he was married for over 50 years. Phil and Jill had four children - the twins, Shula and Kenton, and David and Elizabeth.
After Dan retired, Phil took over Brookfield Farm, where he had a particular fondness for pigs. In 1991, he had a hip replacement operation, and in 2001 he handed the farm over to David and his wife; Phil and Jill moved to Glebe Cottage. Having retired from farming, Phil still helped out at Brookfield. He was also a pianist and enjoyed teaching his granddaughter Pip to play the piano; he also played the organ at St Stephen's Church. He also took up astronomy in his retirement and enjoyed cooking, though this was often to the irritation of Jill.
With the death of Norman Painting on 29 October 2009, The Archers production team made plans for Phil's death to be written into the series. The last episode to feature the voice of Phil Archer was broadcast on 22 November 2009 when he helped Jill and his grandchildren make Christmas cakes. In the episode broadcast on 12 February 2010, listeners heard Jill arriving home to Glebe Cottage after a day out to find Phil had died in his armchair while listening to Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, with a cup of tea at his side. The programme quietly faded away to the Elgar, rather than the familiar signature tune.