Claire Sweeney paid her respects to her ex-boyfriend Ricky Hatton as she attended his funeral service at Manchester Cathedral on Friday.
The boxer’s life was celebrated by a host of celebrities and members of the public as he was laid to rest after being found dead aged 46 at his Hyde home on September 14.
Claire, 54, and Ricky dated for several months in 2024, starting after they competed on ITV’s Dancing On Ice but remained friends after ending their romance.
The former Coronation Street star looked sombre as she arrived at the service in a black peplum dress and veiled fascinator.
Claire was joined at the service by the likes of Liam Gallagher, Tyson Fury and Wayne and Coleen Rooney, as well as the great and good of British boxing.
As mourners reflected on Hatton’s life and times, the funeral cortege departed from the Cheshire Cheese pub – his local – on Stockport Road in Hyde and travelled to Harehill Tavern before doves were released in Hatton’s honour at The New Inn.
Claire Sweeney paid her respects to her ex-boyfriend Ricky Hatton as she attended his funeral service at Manchester Cathedral on Friday
Claire, 54, and Ricky dated for several months in 2024, starting after they competed on ITV’s Dancing On Ice but remained friends after ending their romance
In a nod to Hatton’s love of classic TV comedy Only Fools and Horses, his yellow Reliant Robin van formed part of the cortege, transported on a low-loader trailer.
Some of the mourners waved Manchester City flags emblazoned with ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton’ as the cortege drove by the Cheshire Cheese at 9.45am.
Hundreds stood outside the pub to pay their respects and they burst into a respectful applause as the ‘Trotters Independent Trading Co’ van owned by Hatton stopped.
Many mourners placed flowers and tributes on the low-loader transporting the vehicle. Hatton’s body was in a blue coffin with ‘Blue Moon’ etched on the side.
The sporting world was left reeling at Ricky’s death in September, which came just three months before he was due to make his professional comeback in Dubai.
Claire paid tribute to Ricky a few days after his death.
Sharing a video montage of him to the soundtrack of Elvis Presley’s If I Can Dream, the actress wrote: ‘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,’ Claire wrote.
‘To them, Speaky and to all his friends who loved him so deeply and for so many years I send you my deepest sympathy. Ricky, you were the people’s champ. We adored and cherished you. Love you always.’
The former Coronation Street star looked sombre as she arrived at the service in a black peplum dress and veiled fascinator
