TV & Showbiz

Boxing legend Ricky Hatton revealed as first Dancing on Ice contestant for 2024

We'll just have to wait and see how fairs with these judges scorecards.

Danny Jones Danny Jones - 26th September 2023

In a surprising announcement from the world of television and boxing, legendary fighter and Manc sporting icon Ricky Hatton has been announced as the very first contestant on the next season of Dancing on Ice.

And yes, we’d wager we’re about as surprised as you are.

Ricky Hatton fully retired from boxing back in 2012 and has been busy coaching at his gym in Hyde ever since, but did return for an exhibition match in November last year and has clearly been keeping in shape — so much so that he fancied a crack at joining the Dancing on Ice cast of 2024

Appearing on This Morning on Tuesday, 26 September, the Stockport-born bruiser confirmed that he will be taking part in the upcoming series which starts in January.

If they don’t do a routine set to the tune of ‘Blue Moon’, it’ll be us who start throwing fists.

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Punching his way onto the ITV studio this morning, Hatton revealed himself as the first contestant of the hit ice-skating reality show next season, with presenter Holly Willoughby stating that she “can’t wait to get [him] in the rink” and Ricky joking, “I wish I shared your confidence”.

Explaining exactly why he said yes, the 44-year-old said, “I like setting new challenges and keeping myself busy”, acknowledging that he also struggled with retirement when he hung up his gloves.

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Stressing that part of his motivation is also mental health — for which he has become an avid campaigner — he insisted that “keeping active and doing things that are positive” isn’t just something he is striving for but believes that others should take note of.

who is on dancing on ice this year?
Go on Rick!

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Admitting that there aren’t many adventures quite as new as taking on Dancing on Ice in front of millions of viewers watching back home, ‘Hitman’ said, “If I can hold my nerve in the boxing ring I should be able to hold my nerve in the ice rink.”

As for how well he’ll fare swapping the ring for the rink, only time will tell but he was always known for his footwork just as much as he was for his power, so we’re backing him to be a bit of a dark horse.

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We can’t wait to see the Mancunian get skating, especially with him making such a concerted effort to raise awareness surrounding mental health and how keeping busy, exercising and setting yourself new challenges can have a big impact.

The Manc had the immense pleasure of chatting with Ricky a few months back ahead of the 2023 Manchester Remembers charity match, another cause he was proud to get behind. It was a joy.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Image — Ricky Hatton (via Instagram/Twitter)

TV & Showbiz

Chris Brown arrested at luxury Manchester hotel just weeks before major tour

Daisy Jackson Daisy Jackson Chris Brown arrested at luxury Manchester hotel just weeks before major tour

Singer Chris Brown has been arrested at a five-star hotel in Manchester on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm.

The ‘Forever’ singer, who is set to play four huge shows at the Co-op Live arena next month, was arrested at The Lowry Hotel around 2am today (Thursday, 15 May).

It’s been reported that the arrest is in relation to a bottle attack at a London nightclub two years ago against music producer Abe Diaw at Tape nightclub.

Chris Brown, 36, flew into Manchester on a private jet on Wednesday, 14 May, and was later arrested by officers from the Metropolitan Police at his hotel.

In a statement, The Met told The Sun: “A 36-year-old man was arrested at a hotel in Manchester shortly after 02:00hrs on Thursday, 15 May on suspicion of grievous bodily harm.

“He has been taken into custody where he remains. The arrest relates to an incident at a venue in Hanover Square on 19 February 2023. The investigation is being led by detectives from the Central West Area Basic Command Unit.”

Abe Diaw has alleged that Brown ‘smashed him over the head with a bottle’ in the attack on him, at around 3am at Tape nightclub.

Diaw has launched a civil claim against Brown for $16 million (£12 million) in damages for injuries and losses suffered as a result of the alleged attack.

Chris Brown has 10 UK tour dates in the pipeline as part of his ‘Breezy Bowl XX tour’, which includes four at the Co-op Live on 15, 16, 24 June, and 3 July 2025.

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Featured Images — Eva Rinaldi (via Wikimedia Commons)

TV & Showbiz

Coronation Street and Emmerdale set for special crossover episode

Danny Jones Danny Jones

Two of Britain’s most legendary TV shows are set to collide as Coronation Street and Emmerdale prepare for an unforgettable crossover.

It’s the sort of thing we’ve imagined plenty of times before, but if we’re being honest, we never actually thought it would come to fruition.

For the first time ever, the iconic Northern soaps will be teaming up to release a special crossover episode early next year.

‘Coronationdale’? ‘Emmerdale Street’? All we know is we’re excited.

Announced on Tuesday, 13 May, ITV confirmed that work on the first-ever Coronation Street and Emmerdale collaboration is now underway.

The flagship serial franchises both have huge nationwide followings in their own right, attracting more than 8 million viewers every week.

Moreover, with both Manc’s much-loved Corrie and its Yorkshire counterpart having faced financial struggles in recent months, this announcement couldn’t have come at a better time.

Writing in an official joint press release, the two shows revealed they will “join forces in an unprecedented, one-off special episode to launch the broadcaster’s new power hour of soap, which begins on ITV1 and STV in January 2026.”

The ‘power hour’ is part of the channel’s plans to readjust its approach to its regular programming laid out earlier this year, with this serving as an eye-catching way to promote the new schedule.

Put it this way, provided they keep the crossovers up North and avoid you know where, this is the kind of thing we can get behind…

The statement goes on to read: “The distinctive worlds of Emmerdale and Coronation Street will merge for one night only in a ‘mash-up’ of our two favourite communities.”

ITV believe they have come up with an “ingenious way of linking the two universes” before having them return to Greater Manchester and the Dales, respectively.

The episode will be a self-contained one-off special, but one that sees them canonically grounded in the same entertainment world forever and, you never know, if the idea is a hit then it could be the first of many to come.

As if that wasn’t enough, to make the prospect even more interesting, the producers are inviting members of the audience to choose which two characters they would like to meet and interact with in the scene – keep your eyes peeled on their social media for more information.

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Coming in January 2026 (specific release date yet to be confirmed), this is not one you want to miss.

We’re also glad to see the pair of long-standing soaps and institutions of British telly have got off to a strong start this year, raking in 124 million streams on ITVX with each episode now available on the streaming platform ahead of each night’s episode.

You can expect a big viewer spike when this one goes out, that’s for sure.

For all the latest news, events and goings on in Greater Manchester, subscribe to The Manc newsletter HERE.

Featured Images — ITV (press shot)/The Manc Group

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