Coronation Street and Keeping Up Appearances actor Geoffrey Hughes has died aged 68, his agent said.

 

The star, famed for his role as Coronation Street binman Eddie Yates, died last night "peacefully in his sleep" after a "long courageous battle" with prostate cancer, according to his family.

 

Hughes also played Vernon Scripps in Heartbeat, Twiggy in TV comedy The Royle Family and Onslow in Keeping Up Appearances.

His last major TV role was playing Uncle Keith in Skins back in 2009.

 

Born in Wallasey Hughes often portrayed cheery, larger than life characters.

He had undergone a course of radiotherapy in 2010 after collapsing at his home on the Isle of Wight.

 

Ricky Tomlinson, who appeared alongside Hughes's Twiggy character in the Manchester-based Royle Family, was one of the first to pay tribute.

"Geoff wasn't just an actor," he said. "He was my mate. I used to call him every few weeks but hadn't spoken to him in about a fortnight. It's such a loss."

 

Geoff appeared on the famous cobbles from 1974 to 1983, reappearing in 1987.

His famous rows with Hilda Ogden went down in Weatherfield history.

 

A spokesman for Coronation Street said: "We are very sad to hear of the death of Geoffrey Hughes. He created a legendary and iconic character in Eddie Yates who will always be part of Coronation Street. Everyone connected with the programme sends our sincerest condolences to his family and friends."

 

 

 

R.I.P. Geoffrey

 

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Edited July 28, 201212 yr by euro music

Fanstastic actor, my favourite charactor he played was Onslo in Keeping Up Appearances. RIP to a legend.

Fanstastic actor, my favourite charactor he played was Onslo in Keeping Up Appearances. RIP to a legend.

 

My favourite character is Twiggy from The Royle Family.

 

Kath

He was great in the Royle Family, that said, i have never seen him in anything that i did not enjoy, he was always a pleasure to watch and was the style of actor that would attract me to watching a show simply becuase he was appearing. Keeping Up Appearnces had a small cast and sadly both Onslo and Rose who have been taken by cancer were taken far too early in life.