In a devastating blow to his legion of fans, boxing royalty Ricky Hatton has been forced to hang up his ice skates for good. The former world champion's highly anticipated stint on Dancing On Ice 2024 has come to a crushing and premature end after he sustained a significant injury during a rigorous training session.
The 45-year-old Mancunian legend, known as 'The Hitman' in his boxing heyday, was deep into preparations for the ITV show's live launch when the accident occurred. The severity of the injury left production company Lifted Entertainment and Hatton himself with no choice but to make the difficult decision to withdraw.
A Heartbreaking Decision
Sources close to the situation describe the atmosphere as one of profound disappointment. Hatton was reportedly "absolutely devastated" by the turn of events, having thrown himself into the challenge with the same grit and determination that defined his boxing career.
An official spokesperson for the show confirmed the news, stating: "Ricky had thrown himself into the process and was loving every second of it. He’s absolutely devastated to be having to leave. He’s been an absolute pleasure to work with and we wish him a speedy recovery."
Rushing for a Replacement
The sudden exit has sent producers scrambling to find a last-minute replacement celebrity with just weeks to go before the series is due to hit the airwaves. The search is now on for a new contender brave enough to step into the spotlight and onto the ice.
Hatton was set to join a star-studded line-up including former soap star Ryan Thomas, ski jumper Eddie 'The Eagle' Edwards, and reality TV personality Amber Davies. His departure leaves a significant hole in the cast, removing one of the show's most charismatic and competitive personalities.
A Pattern of Misfortune
This isn't the first time the show has been rocked by a pre-series injury. The 2023 series saw both Lady Leshurr and Rachel Stevens forced to pull out before the competition began due to their own training injuries, highlighting the immense physical demands of the show.
Ricky Hatton's journey on the ice is over before it truly began, leaving fans and the show's team wishing the boxing great a swift and full recovery.
