Claire Sweeney and Ricky Hatton are reportedly making plans to celebrate the “next level” of their new relationship after hitting it off after taking part in Dancing On Ice earlier this year.
Actress Sweeney, 52, is said to have fallen for “hysterical” boxer Hatton, 45, while they competed on the ITV skating competition.
Close friends of the Coronation Street star recalled how she labelled the retired World Champion “one of the funniest people” she has met.
Speaking to MailOnline, they went on to say the couple have grown “incredibly close” and are planning their next big step with a summer holiday.
A source told the publication: “Anyone who knows Ricky knows how funny and entertaining he can be.
“But Claire had no idea until she met him on Dancing on Ice, and that's what really attracted her to him initially... He constantly had her in hysterics and they grew closer and closer after that.”
The two struck up a romance after meeting on Dancing on Ice
ITV/Getty
They added: “They are also discussing possibly going on holiday together to Tenerife the Summer which will see their relationship go to the next level.”
Details of the romance between the couple emerged last week after it was revealed the pair had been darting “for weeks”.
Earlier this month, the two were spotted enjoying a pub crawl in Hatton’s home city of Manchester.
A source told The Mirror: “The chemistry was electric. Ricky went out of the show early on but he contacted her afterwards and let’s say he started wooing her.
The pair met on this year's Dancing On Ice
“They’ve been out on several dates. Saturday was just one in a long line of them. They’ve been seeing each other quite a bit. He is completely besotted.
“It seems like an unlikely match but he’s always had a way with women. They fall for his personality, and Claire has.
“He knows her number one priority is her son so they are being very careful. Let’s watch this space.”
It came shortly after Sweeney opened up about wanting to find love, telling The Mirror’s Invite Only podcast: “I really want to be with someone who makes me laugh. Someone who’s kind. Someone I will click with.”
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She continued: “So, someone like that, it just wouldn’t be about aesthetics – OK, there’s an initial attraction but I want it to be more than aesthetics, that’s the type of person I’m looking for.”
While on the competition series, Hatton, who was partnered with Robin Johnstone, became the first to be voted off from the show.
Meanwhile, Sweeney survived the show for another two weeks before being eliminated herself.
