Claire Sweeney’s life off screen – money woes, rarely seen son and heartbreak before Ricky Hatton
As Claire Sweeney goes public with her new boyfriend Ricky Hatton, we take a look at the Coronation Street's life off-screen, including her past romances and life as a single mum
Claire Sweeney has a new man in her life, after previously admitting she was happy to remain single until her 80s.
The Coronation Street actress, 52, went public with boxer Ricky Hatton, 45, over the weekend, after the two stars sparked up a romance during rehearsals for the 2024 series of Dancing On Ice. Insiders revealed the sports star began “wooing Claire” after his early exit from the ITV series.
“They’ve been seeing each other quite a bit. He is completely besotted,” a source close to the new couple told the Mirror over the weekend. As the showbiz world reacts to Ricky and Claire’s shock union, we take a look at the Scouse soap star’s life off-screen prior to falling for the boxing champion.
Claire Sweeney’s life off-screen as she goes public with new boyfriend Ricky Hatton
Money woes
Despite being a household name for decades, soap legend Claire has faced financial battles over the years, with the mum-of-one hit hard during the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking in March 2022, Claire recalled how she sold her holiday home just months before lockdown wreaked havoc on the entertainment industry.
In a candid interview with The Sunday Times about her financial situation, Claire disclosed when asked straight out how much she earned in 2021, responding: “Under £5,000. Our industry was decimated. Thankfully I’d sold a house in Spain, in 2019, so I was blessed that I could sit it out comfortably.”
“It was a big house in Mallorca that I’d bought in 2004 for €690,000 (£580,000).” Admitting her sorrow, she said: “It broke my heart to sell but it was in its own grounds, and my little boy didn’t want that – he wanted to be with other kids.” Claire went on to reveal that that despite selling her property for more than she paid, the profits were eaten up by taxes in both Spain and the UK. She lamented: “I sold it for €950,000 (£804,000), but I had to pay Spanish taxes and English taxes.”
Claire Sweeney was 43 when she welcomed her first child into the world (
Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
The soap star split from her son’s father shortly after giving birth (
PA)
Proud mum
Claire became a mum for the first time at the age of 43 in 2014, when she welcomed son Jaxon into the world with her then fiance Daniel Reilly. Claire and Daniel called time on their romance the year following their son’s birth. Speaking last year, as she joined the cast of Coronation Street, Claire opened up about life as a single mum.
Chatting with OK magazine, she revealed, “I’m open to dating but at the moment I’m so busy with Jaxon and Corrie and everything else. If I met someone amazing then that would be lovely but it’s out of my hands.” Furthermore, in a deeper conversation with the Liverpool Echo, Claire had shed light upon prioritising her son Jaxon, now ten, whenever she makes decisions concerning her personal affairs or work.
“I’m a single mum and my decisions are not only based on the love of what I do but they’re based on stability for me and my son. I’m 52 years of age now. Not only is it the best soap, and not only is she a wonderful part but having stability for a while just comes at the right time as well,” the new Corrie star explained. “Not touring in a musical in a different place every week. I get to have my full weekends with my boy now, which is lovely.”
Chaotic love life
Claire’s love life has been as dramatic as some of her soap characters’ on-screen relationships over the years, with the mum-of-one previously resigned to being single until an old age. Speaking to the Mirror’s Invite Only podcast earlier this year, Claire admitted her son was her priority and left her fulfilled enough to put looking for love on the back burner.
“I’m not dating at the moment, no. I mean, I’m so fulfilled and it’s so exciting what I’m doing,” the soap legend explained. She continued. “I get all the love I want off my son, all the attention I want at work, and I’m financially secure. So at the moment, I’m not searching. I’ve always been very self-sufficient.
“I’m not someone who needs to have a boyfriend. And, look, my grandma met the love of her life when she was 86 – he was her 74-year-old toyboy. She married him and at her 100th birthday she said, ‘This man’s kept me alive with love and laughter.’ They laughed every day. And I thought, if I have to wait that long to meet the right person, and make the right choice, so be it.”
Prior to welcoming a son into the world with ex-partner Daniel Reilly, Claire had a relationship with businessman Tony Hibbard for six years, until 2007. The mum-of-one is now seemingly seeing how things go with new beau Ricky Hatton, after striking up a romance during rehearsals for Dancing On Ice.
Speaking to the Mirror over the weekend, a source said of Ricky and Claire’s Dancing On Ice meeting: “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. 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.” The insider added: “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.”
