Sweeney & Hatton's Tenerife Romance: Actress and Boxer Enjoy Sun-Kissed Dinner Date
Claire Sweeney, the 53-year-old actress best known for her role as Lindsey Corkhill in Channel 4's *Brookside*, looked radiant in a hot pink dress as she enjoyed a romantic dinner with her boyfriend, former boxer Ricky Hatton, in Tenerife.
The couple, who confirmed their relationship earlier this year, were pictured stepping out in style at the Thai Botanico restaurant on Thursday. Sweeney's vibrant, figure-hugging dress featured a gathered one-shoulder detail and a crimped lining, while she added height with white strappy sandals. A touch of glamour was provided by a gold Gucci handbag and gold jewellery.
Hatton, meanwhile, cut a more casual figure in a blue and white floral shirt, light blue shorts, and navy loafers, complementing the sunny surroundings.
The outing follows Sweeney's recent heartfelt social media tribute to her boyfriend, expressing her pride after he was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in June.
"So proud of you darling, flying to USA to be inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame," Sweeney wrote on Instagram, alongside a video of Hatton speaking about the accolade. "What an honour, and so deserved @rickyhitmanhatton," she added, with a string of red heart emojis.
Hatton, in turn, expressed his humility and gratitude, acknowledging the contribution of everyone who had worked with him and supported him throughout his career.
Sweeney and Hatton met on the set of *Dancing On Ice
earlier this year and quickly developed a strong connection. Their romance blossomed after Hatton, who was the first celebrity eliminated from the show, reached out to Sweeney, who followed him out of the competition two weeks later.
Speaking to *The Sun
following a previous trip to Tenerife, Hatton described Sweeney as "just like me", highlighting their shared down-to-earth personalities and love of laughter. "We spend our whole time laughing together," he said. "She's always got time for people and she would never turn a picture down with a fan. That's what I really like about her. We've just been having good fun."
A source close to the couple recently confirmed to MailOnline that Sweeney is planning to introduce Hatton to her family, including her nine-year-old son Jaxon.
"Claire and Ricky have become really close," the source revealed. "She wasn't looking for a relationship but then Ricky came along and it just felt right and natural and she's really happy."
The source added, "It feels a bit like winning the lottery, and she's really counting her blessings as it all came from nowhere and often that's the best way."
Another source, speaking to *the Mirror*, described the couple's chemistry as "electric" and revealed that Hatton had been "wooing" Sweeney since their time on *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," the source said.
"He knows her number one priority is her son so they are being very careful. Let's watch this space," the source added, hinting at a potential future for the couple.
Sweeney's last long-term romance was with Daniel Reilly, the father of her son Jaxon, and they separated in 2017. She has previously joked about being a late bloomer in love, suggesting she may be following in her grandmother's footsteps, who she claims did not find love until she was 86.
