FORMER Coronation Street veteran Geoffrey Hughes, the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the Isle of Wight has revealed he turned down an acting part on Corrie because he’s happier with his quiet country life on the island.

The 66-year-old - who played binman Eddie Yeats in the ’70s and ’80s on the show started his acting after attending Abbotsford School in Yorkshire- has lived on the Isle of Wight for nine years and said he would hate to give it up for a return to the Manchester-based soap.

Geoffrey said:

“I’m totally content. I’m very, very happy here I devote my time to working as a full-time forester providing wood fuel eco-heating for HMP Isle of Wight.”