Coronation Street star Claire Sweeney delivered a heartfelt tribute to the late boxer Ricky Hatton during a live appearance on ITV's This Morning on Tuesday, June 16. The actress, who plays Cassie Plummer on the soap, appeared alongside presenters Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard to discuss her new role in Annie the Musical and her upcoming exit from Coronation Street.
Remembering Ricky Hatton
During the conversation, Claire opened up about the passing of Ricky Hatton, who tragically died in September 2025. The pair had been close friends for years and shared a brief romance after appearing together on Dancing On Ice in 2024. Following his death, Claire posted a moving tribute on social media, and a special memorial event was held last week to honor the boxer's legacy, as reported by the Liverpool Echo.
Ben Shephard, who trained with Ricky for a Sport Relief boxing fight, recalled the boxer's humor and kindness. Claire described Ricky as a "legend" and a "good, good man," adding that she felt "very blessed" to have had him in her life. Ben echoed her sentiments, saying Ricky was "sorely missed, but so fondly remembered."
Dancing On Ice Memories
The pair also reminisced about Ricky's memorable stint on Dancing On Ice, where he was famously terrible but embraced his role as the joker. Claire laughed as she recalled how Ricky only wanted to skate to the Elvis song "If I Believe." Ben noted that Ricky's willingness to be seen as a joker made him special.
Coronation Street Departure
Elsewhere in the interview, Claire hinted at a "blast from the past" arriving on the cobbles as her character Cassie Plummer's departure storyline unfolds. She described the upcoming plot as "heartbreaking," "dramatic," and "explosive."
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am, while Coronation Street airs weekday nights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
