Coronation Street’s Claire Sweeney arrives at ex-boyfriend Ricky Hatton’s funeral
The Coronation Street star was devastated at the boxer’s passing, after he was found dead at his home in Hyde, at the age of 46, on September 14.
Today (October 10), Claire was pictured arriving to bid farewell to Ricky ahead of his funeral service at Manchester Cathedral this afternoon.
She was joined by a host of famous faces and sporting legends honouring the multiple world championship boxer, as thousands of fans lined the streets to pay their respects to the Stockport-born star.
Tyson Fury, Natasha Jones, Tony Bellew and Frazer Clarke are amongst the fellow boxers who have now arrived at Manchester Cathedral for Ricky’s funeral.
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Liam Gallagher, Andy Burnham, Wayne Rooney, Dean Gaffney, Paddy McGuinness, Freddie Flintoff and Coronation Street star Bruce Jones are also paying their respects.
Claire, who enjoyed an eight-month romance with Ricky last year after they worked together on Dancing On Ice, took to social media in the days after the tragic news.
She posted a heartbreaking statement: “I’ve needed a few days to process the devastating news about my dear friend Ricky.
“My thoughts are with his family, especially his children Campbell, Millie Fearne and Lyla, his granddaughter. To them, Speaky and to all his friends who loved him so deeply and for so many years I send you my deepest sympathy.”
She added: “Ricky, you were the people’s champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always.”
It was then on Monday (October 6) that Claire took to social media on what would have been Ricky’s 47th birthday.
The former Brookside star posted a new picture of Ricky to her Instagram Story, alongside which she wrote: “Happy Birthday,” before adding the praying hands emoji and a red heart.
Claire and Ricky’s relationship was first rumoured after they were spotted on a series of pub dates, including in Stockport.
They then stepped out on the red carpet together for the first time in May 2024 at the first opening night of the £365m Co-op Live Arena in Manchester.
They both posted photos on their Instagram accounts after posing together at the press boards for celebs and VIPs at the new arena’s welcome event.
It wasn’t long after that when the new couple were then seen enjoying a sun-soaked holiday in Tenerife and recently headed back abroad and enjoyed a long weekend in Mallorca with his family.
But it was in December that it was reported Ricky and Claire had split. The breakup came before Christmas and asked about the split during a red carpet appearance, Claire told MailOnline: “I’m great – we’re still friends, we were friends, we dated and now we’re friends again. It’s all good!”