Record-breaking Radio Actor Painting Dies

Veteran British radio actor NORMAN PAINTING - the longest-serving soap opera star ever - has passed away of heart failure at the age of 85.

Painting was the voice of Philip Archer in the BBC’s iconic Radio 4 drama The Archers since its debut in 1950.

He also wrote more than 1,000 scripts for the show and appears in the Guinness Book of Records as the actor who has appeared in a single soap for the longest length of time.

The 85 year old had suffered ill health for some time but still taped sporadic recordings, making his last performance earlier this month (Oct09).
His final broadcast will be transmitted on 22 November (09).