Phil Archer
Encyclopedia
Philip Walter Archer is a fictional character from the British BBC Radio 4
soap opera The Archers
, played by Norman Painting
. He made his first appearance on 29 May 1950, the show's pilot episode. The character later became the longest serving male character in the series. His longevity gave him something of the status of a 'patriarch
' in Ambridge.
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 for almost 60 years a central figure in one of Radio 4's hallmark programmes. As Phil Archer, he became a wonderful patriarch yet he had started decades earlier as a young romantic hero." Following Painting's death, the producers and scripwriters met to plan Phil's exit storyline. They decided not to kill him off straight away and let him spend Christmas with his family. Painting's final appearance featuring his voice was broadcast on 22 November 2009. Phil was referred to, but never heard since then. On 12 February 2010, Phil's wife, Jill (Patricia Greene
), discovered Phil had died at home.
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 pig
s. 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.
Phil helps Jill and his grandchildren make Christmas cakes. A few days later, Jill returns home to find Phil has died in his armchair while listening to Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, with a cup of tea at his side.
placed Phil at number one on her list of best soap opera characters of the month. Of Phil and Painting she said "One of the characters at the very heart of the soap, Phil's death will hopefully be written in a very moving way, and it'll no doubt have a profound effect on the whole Ambridge community. The longest-serving actor in any soap, Painting had also written over a thousand scripts for the show. He and Phil will both be sorely missed."
Gillian Reynolds of The Daily Telegraph
said Phil's death was "beautifully done, in seven scenes, three intersecting plot lines and all in 13 minutes. You knew it was coming. That very morning, in a preview, I'd even predicted it. Yet, when it did, I shed a tear. Any Archers fan will."
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
soap opera The Archers
The Archers
The Archers is a long-running British soap opera broadcast on the BBC's main spoken-word channel, Radio 4. It was originally billed as "an everyday story of country folk", but is now described on its Radio 4 web site as "contemporary drama in a rural setting"...
, played by Norman Painting
Norman Painting
Norman Painting, OBE was an actor who played Phil Archer in the BBC Radio 4 soap opera The Archers since the pilot episodes were aired on the BBC Midlands Home Service in summer 1950. The series went national on 1 January 1951...
. He made his first appearance on 29 May 1950, the show's pilot episode. The character later became the longest serving male character in the series. His longevity gave him something of the status of a 'patriarch
Patriarch
Originally a patriarch was a man who exercised autocratic authority as a pater familias over an extended family. The system of such rule of families by senior males is called patriarchy. This is a Greek word, a compound of πατριά , "lineage, descent", esp...
' in Ambridge.
Casting
Norman Painting joined the cast as Phil Archer, the "handsome" son of Dan (Harry Oakes) and Doris Archer (Gwen Berryman), for the show's pilot episode broadcast on the BBC Midlands Home Service on 29 May 1950, he stayed on 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 RecordsGuinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
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 for almost 60 years a central figure in one of Radio 4's hallmark programmes. As Phil Archer, he became a wonderful patriarch yet he had started decades earlier as a young romantic hero." Following Painting's death, the producers and scripwriters met to plan Phil's exit storyline. They decided not to kill him off straight away and let him spend Christmas with his family. Painting's final appearance featuring his voice was broadcast on 22 November 2009. Phil was referred to, but never heard since then. On 12 February 2010, Phil's wife, Jill (Patricia Greene
Patricia Greene
Patricia Greene MBE , is a British film and radio actress.-Early life:She was born in Derbyshire, England. She attended the Parkfield Cedars Grammar School in Derby . She also calls herself Paddy...
), discovered Phil had died at home.
Storylines
Phil Archer 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 squireSquire
The English word squire is a shortened version of the word Esquire, from the Old French , itself derived from the Late Latin , in medieval or Old English a scutifer. The Classical Latin equivalent was , "arms bearer"...
George Fairbrother. During this time he met and married the squire's daughter Grace
Grace Archer
Grace Archer née Fairbrother was a fictional character in the BBC's long-running radio soap, The Archers, and was one of the original characters. She was played by Ysanne Churchman...
. 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 pig
Pig
A pig is any of the animals in the genus Sus, within the Suidae family of even-toed ungulates. Pigs include the domestic pig, its ancestor the wild boar, and several other wild relatives...
s. In 1991, he had a hip replacement
Hip replacement
Hip replacement is a surgical procedure in which the hip joint is replaced by a prosthetic implant. Hip replacement surgery can be performed as a total replacement or a hemi replacement. Such joint replacement orthopaedic surgery generally is conducted to relieve arthritis pain or fix severe...
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
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and enjoyed teaching his granddaughter Pip to play the piano; he also played the organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
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.
Phil helps Jill and his grandchildren make Christmas cakes. A few days later, Jill returns home to find Phil has died in his armchair while listening to Elgar's Dream of Gerontius, with a cup of tea at his side.
Reception
In October 2009, Ruth Deller of television website LowcultureLowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of Doctor Who Adventures.-Purpose:...
placed Phil at number one on her list of best soap opera characters of the month. Of Phil and Painting she said "One of the characters at the very heart of the soap, Phil's death will hopefully be written in a very moving way, and it'll no doubt have a profound effect on the whole Ambridge community. The longest-serving actor in any soap, Painting had also written over a thousand scripts for the show. He and Phil will both be sorely missed."
Gillian Reynolds of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
said Phil's death was "beautifully done, in seven scenes, three intersecting plot lines and all in 13 minutes. You knew it was coming. That very morning, in a preview, I'd even predicted it. Yet, when it did, I shed a tear. Any Archers fan will."
External links
- Character profile at BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
- Character profile at Archers Addicts