Phil Archer
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Philip Walter Archer (born 23 April 1928) is a character in The Archers, played by Norman Painting. He is the only character still in the show who was in the first episode in 1951. His longevity gives him something of the status of a 'patriarch' in Ambridge.
He is the second child of Dan and Doris Archer, (the oldest being Jack and the youngest being Christine Barford), and has four children, Shula Hebden Lloyd, Kenton, David and Elizabeth Pargetter.
Phil attended to the Farm Institute, but he disappointed Dan by working for local squire George Fairbrother. During this time he met and married the squire's daughter Grace. She died in a fire in 1955. Two years later, he met Jill Patterson, to whom he is still married. After Dan retired, Phil took over Brookfield Farm, which he later handed on to David; Phil and Jill moving to Glebe Cottage. In 1991, he had a hip replacement operation.
Phil has retired from farming, but he still helps at Brookfield. Phil is also a pianist and is currently teaching his granddaughter Pip to play the piano; he also plays the organ at St Stephen's Church.
