Geoffrey Hughes DL (2 February 1944, Wallasey, Cheshire – 27 July 2012, Isle of Wight) was an English television, film and stage actor.Hughes rose to fame for portraying much-loved binman Eddie Yeats in the popular long-running British soap opera Coronation Street from 1974 to 1983, making a return to the show in 1987. He went on to appear in two popular British television sitcoms during the 1990s, playing loveable slob Onslow in Roy Clarke's Keeping Up Appearances (1990–95) followed by Twiggy in Craig Cash and Caroline Aherne's The Royle Family (1998–2000), the latter of which he reprised his role for specials in 2006 and 2008.From 2001 to 2005 he played Vernon Scripps, conman and loveable rogue, on the ITV police drama Heartbeat (2001–05), taking over as the show's main loveable rogue from Bill Maynard, and returning to the show briefly in 2007 after the character was thought dead.In the 1990s, Hughes was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and in 2010 he suffered a cancer relapse which led him to retire from acting. He died from the illness aged 68 on 27 July 2012.
The joy of doing a play as an actor is that you've got that interaction with the audience and you're also your own editor. If I want to make a pause three quarters of an hour long, I can, whereas on television and film you've got an editor and if you feel there's a rhythm to a line and you want to say it that way, there's no guarantee it'll stay that way.
#
Fact
1
Playing in Peter Pan on stage with Nadia Almada and Paul Nicholas [2006]
2
In 2009, he was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant for the Isle of Wight, making him 'the official link between the island and royalty at formal engagements'.
3
Geoffrey Hughes has appeared in two short comedy films which were in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, Expresso 2007 and Waiting in Rhyme 2009.
4
He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1996 but recovered. In 2010 the cancer returned and he had to retire from acting.
5
His character on Keeping Up Appearances (1990) wears a hat that has the letters FH on it; they stand for Fulton Hogan, a New Zealand airport development, management, and technology company. His tattoos on KUA are fake.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
The History of Stand-Up Comedy
2010
Short
Clown (voice, as Geoff Hughes)
Skins
2007-2009
TV Series
Uncle Keith
Bandy
Fat Bastard
Waiting in Rhyme
2009
Video short
Harry
The Royle Family
1998-2008
TV Series
Twiggy
Flick
2008
Tony Ray
Keeping Up Appearances: Life Lessons from Onslow
2008
Video
Onslow (as Geoff Hughes)
Liverpool Nativity
2007
TV Movie
Gabriel
Expresso
2007
Short
The Builder (Normal Coffee)
Casualty
2007
TV Series
Si Blake
Heartbeat
2001-2007
TV Series
Vernon Scripps
Polterguests
1999
TV Series
Hopalong Hughes
The Memoirs of Hyacinth Bucket
1997
TV Movie
Onslow
Keeping Up Appearances
1990-1995
TV Series
Onslow
The Smiths
1995
TV Movie
Dooley
The Upper Hand
1993
TV Series
Ray
I, Lovett
1989-1993
TV Series
Dirk / Addison Mammon
Boon
1992
TV Series
Tiny Tim
Making Out
1991
TV Series
Dilk
Spender
1991
TV Series
Kenny Coates
You Rang, M'Lord?
1990
TV Series
Fred Kendall
Coasting
1990
TV Series
Ray Hartley
Screenplay
1990
TV Series
Repo Man
Screen Two
1990
TV Series
Det. Sgt. Bailey
Flying Lady
1989
TV Series
Arnie Hamson
Coronation Street
1974-1987
TV Series
Eddie Yeats
Doctor Who
1986
TV Series
Popplewick
The Winning Streak
1985
TV Mini-Series
Custom car driver
The Bright Side
1985
TV Series
Mr. Lithgow
Nijinsky
1980
Gavrilov
Mr. Big
1977
TV Series
Policeman
Cilla's World of Comedy
1976
TV Series
Roger Fulwood
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
1976
Postman
Don't Drink the Water
1975
TV Series
Frank
Crown Court
1974
TV Series
Robert Sims
No, Honestly
1974
TV Series
Derek
Z Cars
1968-1974
TV Series
Wynne / Mickey / Bartram / ...
Tiffany Jones
1973
Georg
Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall
1973
Larry
Dad's Army
1972
TV Series
the Bridge Corporal
Thirty-Minute Theatre
1967-1972
TV Series
Chuck / Lance-Corporal Williams
Carry on at Your Convenience
1971
Willie
Play for Today
1971
TV Series
Derek
The Mind of Mr. J.G. Reeder
1971
TV Series
Danny
Shadows of Fear
1971
TV Series
Terry
Inn of the Frightened People
1971
Brewery Driver, Fred
The Blood on Satan's Claw
1971
Drinking Villager (uncredited)
The Man Who Had Power Over Women
1970
Policeman
Up Pompeii!
1970
TV Series
Piteous
Wicked Women
1970
TV Series
Builder
The Wednesday Play
1970
TV Series
Flash Blakey
My Partner the Ghost
1970
TV Series
Harper
Curry & Chips
1969
TV Series
Dick
Young Dick
The Virgin Soldiers
1969
'The Virgin Soldiers' - Lantry
Till Death Us Do Part
1968
Mike's brother
Yellow Submarine
1968
Paul (voice, as Geoff Hughes)
The Bofors Gun
1968
Pvt. Samuel (cook)
Smashing Time
1967
Builder
City '68
1967
TV Series
Gill
Out of Town Theatre
1967
TV Mini-Series
William Williams
Sorry I'm Single
1967
TV Series
Gerald
ITV Play of the Week
1966-1967
TV Series
Chris Smitheringale / Frank Monoghan
BBC Play of the Month
1966
TV Series
Second Workman
The Likely Lads
1966
TV Series
Podge / Man at Bar
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Royle Family
1998
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Keeping Up Appearances
1990
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Thanks
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Ballad of Kid Divine: The Cockney Cowboy
1992
thanks
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Loose Women
2009
TV Series
Himself
50 Greatest Comedy Catchphrases
2008
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Funny Blokes of British Comedy
2005
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Funny Ladies of British Comedy
2004
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Comedy Connections
2004
TV Series documentary
Himself
It Shouldn't Happen to a TV Actor
2003
TV Movie documentary
Himself
10 Years of Heartbeat
2002
TV Movie documentary
Himself
All-Star Family Fortunes
2001
TV Series
Himself
This Is Your Life
1980-2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Surprise Surprise!
1994
TV Series
Himself
Op de afspraak
1993
TV Series
Himself
Telly Addicts
1992
TV Series
Himself
An Audience with Kenneth Williams
1983
TV Movie
Himself (uncredited)
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Stars of the Street: 50 Years, 50 Classic Characters
2010
Video
Eddie Yeats
The Greatest Christmas Comedy Moments
2008
TV Movie documentary
Onslow (uncredited)
The Making of the Trial of a Time Lord: Part Four - The Ultimate Foe