Ice to see you again..

CLAIRE Sweeney and Ricky Hatton have started dating and are said to be besotted with each other.

- LAURA ARMSTRONG

The Corrie actress, 52, and the former world champion boxer, 45, met while appearing on Dancing on Ice.

They were pictured cosying up to each other on a boozy date on Saturday night.

The couple are said to have had “electric chemistry” when they met during rehearsals for the ITV reality show.

And sources last night said the get-together was one in a long line of dates they have been on since March. 

Claire was happily single, but Ricky – nicknamed The Hitman in his boxing days – turned her head. 

A source said: “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. 

“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.”

Ricky and Claire were spotted on a night out with pals in Greater Manchester at around 6pm on Saturday, carrying bottles of Veuve Clicquot champagne, before reappearing together outside a second pub at around 11pm.