Coronation Street star dies after cancer battle

GEOFFREY Hughes, the actor best known for his roles in Coronation Street and Keeping Up Appearances, has died at the age of 68.

Hughes, who played Coronation Street binman Eddie 
Yates, died peacefully in his sleep on Friday night after a “long courageous battle” with prostate cancer, his family said yesterday.

The actor thought he had beaten prostate cancer in 2009, but he and his wife 
Sue were given the news that the disease had returned the following year.

Hughes first appeared on screen in the 1960s, featuring in Z-Cars and The Likely 
Lads, and as the voice of Paul McCartney in the Beatles film Yellow Submarine.

He also played Twiggy in TV comedy The Royle Family 
and Onslow in Keeping Up 
Appearances.

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: “He created a 
legendary and iconic character in Eddie Yates who will always be part of Coronation Street.”

Long-serving Coronation Street star William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the soap, said: “I am so sorry to hear about Geoffrey. He was a warm, lovable actor, with great comedy timing.”