Archers veteran has cancer

Norman Painting (Phil Archer) with co-star Patricia Greene (Jill Archer)

Actor Norman Painting, who has played Phil Archer in radio soap The Archers for almost 50 years, has revealed he is suffering from cancer.

The 76-year-old, who has played his role since the serial began on 1 January 1951, has continued to record episodes of the BBC Radio 4 drama since being diagnosed with bladder cancer.

He is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world's longest-running actor in the same role.

I see no reason why this illness should prevent me from continuing doing what I love and I have no plans to retire

Norman Painting

Painting told the London Evening Standard he was determined to carry on his work, and is preparing for the show's 50th anniversary edition which will be broadcast on New Year's Day.

He said: "On occasions I was reading my lines from a wheelchair. Sometimes I was delaying hospital appointments to finish my work in the studio.

"I see no reason why this illness should prevent me from continuing doing what I love and I have no plans to retire.

"I am receiving treatment and I am hoping this is something I can live with."

Painting has been working hard recently as his character is at the centre of the 50th anniversary storyline.

Phil Archer's grown-up children disagree over the direction the family's farm should take, and he will decide who will inherit it on New Year's Day.

A BBC spokesman praised Painting for his professionalism, and said the actor wanted to show it was possible to live a normal life with cancer, and that people should not be afraid of talking about it with their doctors.

Early days: The Archers quickly became a national institution

"Norman doesn't normally talk about it, but he feels it's time people stopped being so worried about discussing cancer - after all, it's something a lot of us are going to suffer from," he told BBC News Online.

"He feels people can come to terms with the condition."

The Archers began as a farming advice serial during the time of post-war rationing, but it soon became hugely popular in a time when television was still in its infancy.

When ITV launched in 1955 the BBC killed off Phil's wife Grace on the same night to try to keep people away from the new competitor.

As part of the series' half-century celebrations, Norman Painting is the guest on a special hour-long Desert Island Discs on Boxing Day, in which he talks about his life, his health and his work. It can be heart on BBC Radio 4 long wave at 1200GMT.