He was 85 and frail but Norman Painting insisted on travelling to the studio to record his lines. Two days later the actor, who had played Phil Archer since the pilot episode of The Archers radio series 60 years ago, died.

Painting, who had fought ill health in recent years, was found at his cottage in the Oxfordshire village of Warmington by his carer yesterday morning. Ambridge addicts have followed Phil’s progress from lusty young romantic to grandfather and Archers patriarch.

He secured a Guinness World Records entry for a continuous performance in the same role. He was also a scriptwriter on The Archers from 1966 to 1982, writing 1,198 scripts for the BBC Radio 4 soap opera.

Painting found that he had bladder cancer several years ago but insisted that it would not stop him doing “what I love”. While Phil Archer retired from farm duties, the actor continued to be an active member of the cast and recorded his final episode of the programme on Tuesday.

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Vanessa Whitburn, the editor of The Archers, told The Times: “He once told me, ‘I just want to play Phil Archer until I die’. I’m pleased that we helped him to make that wish happen.”

Ms Whitburn said that Painting’s final performance was typical. “He was frail but he was the consummate professional. The second the green light went on he was superb.”

Painting had not lost his scriptwriting skills. “He changed one of his very last lines,” Ms Whitburn said.

“It should have been, ‘She died in my arms on the way to the hospital’. Norman said it should be, ‘She died on the way to the hospital . . . in my arms’. He was right, of course. That was much more poetic.”

Painting’s final episode will be broadcast on Sunday, November 22. Ms Whitburn said: “The scene is all the members of the family and the grandchildren looking forward to Christmas. It’s very warm and I’m so glad that’s how Norman made his exit.” She said that the character would not be recast and his death would be “gently worked in” to the storyline.

Hilary Benn, the Secretary of State for Rural Affairs, led the tributes to Painting. He said: “Norman was a real champion of, and a friend for, farmers. His portrayal of Phil Archer brought farming to life in homes around the country and he will be greatly missed.”

Mark Thompson, the Director-General of the BBC, said: “I am deeply saddened. Norman chose to leave behind a promising career in academia at Oxford to devote 60 years in the service of BBC audiences. He rightly became renowned for his portrayal of Phil Archer, a role he created in the pilot episode in 1950, but he was also a gifted writer and talented, versatile broadcaster.

“To millions of listeners he became a friend and, latterly, a wonderful father figure. His death leaves us with a great sense of loss but an even deeper feeling of gratitude for such a huge contribution to the BBC and its audiences over six decades.”

Meurig Raymond, the deputy-president of the National Farmers’ Union, said: “His character represented the NFU as branch chairman for some years and the show itself has dealt with many of the pertinent issues that have faced farming. His death is a great loss.”

Painting’s death was announced as Radio 4 released strong figures for The Archers. The programme has gained 340,000 listeners in the past year, bringing its audience to 4.6 million, the third highest ratings in its history.

Mark Damazer, the controller of Radio 4, said: “Norman Painting was 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.”

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