Former Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes to fight child sex charges Former Hey Dad! actor Robert Hughes arrives at the Downing Centre court in January. FORMER Hey Dad! star Robert Hughes will plead not guilty and go straight to trial after formally waiving his right to a committal hearing over child sex charges. Hughes - grey-haired, silent and blank-faced - today appeared briefly before Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on 11 charges relating to the sexual and indecent assault of five girls. His lawyer Greg Walsh said the 64-year-old former star of the long-running TV sitcom would defend his innocence when trial proceedings begin on Friday. "This Friday he'll be before the District Court pleading not guilty," Mr Walsh said. "We would probably try and get a trial date depending on court's availability around September, October this year," he told reporters. I would anticipate it will be a lengthy trial. There could be pre-trial arguments which could take four to six weeks or even longer. Mr Walsh said his client was doing well despite his high profile sparking massive media attention and his restrictive bail conditions. "His attitude is typical of a man who is doing his very best to deal with very difficult circumstances," Mr Walsh said. I'm rather impressed by the way he's going about it. He's got loving support from (his partner) Robyn Gardiner and his daughter in England, Jessica. Mr Walsh said Hughes was applying himself diligently to preparing for the trial. The accusations preceded his arrest in London last year and his subsequent return to Australia, where he was charged.