Category Entertainment News

Celebs Go Dating star Tom Zanetti took to his Instagram page to share a tribute to boxer Ricky Hatton, who was found dead aged 46 on Sunday

Celebs Go Dating star Tom Zanetti revealed he was with Ricky Hatton two weeks before he died aged 46. The boxer was found dead at his home in Manchester on Sunday. He became one of Britain’s most popular fighters during his career, which peaked in 2005 when he became world champion in his home city of Manchester.

He went on to fight Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, losing both – defeats which plunged him into a deep depression. But he had emerged from his darkness in recent years, returning to the gym to train fighters and speaking openly about his mental health.

The iconic star also appeared on Dancing On Ice last year. Following his death, DJ and TV star Tom took to his page to pay tribute to his pal.

READ MORE: Ricky Hatton was singing at Oasis’ Dublin gig just weeks before tragic deathREAD MORE: Ricky Hatton’s opponent for comeback fight reveals plans to honour boxer

Along with a selfie taken with the boxer, Tom wrote on his Instagram post: “So horrible, I was with him two weeks ago and speaking on insta just recently. What a nice talented man, a natural comedian and obvs huge legend in boxing.

“So sad, love and strength to Ricky’s family and friends.” In the comment section, he added: “We never know what’s round the corner. We have to enjoy every day, take care of ourselves and each other.”

Ricky’s family recently released a statement regarding his death, saying the former world champion “had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.”

The full statement read: “It is with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved son Richard. Richard was so much more than a world champion. To us he was simply ‘Richard’, our son.

“A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many. He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.

“To the wider world, Richard will always be remembered as one of boxing ’s greatest champions — a man who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it. He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport.

“But beyond the titles, the nights to remember, and the roar of the crowd, he remained the same down-to-earth Richard who never forgot where he came from.”

They continued: “As a family, our loss is immeasurable, and words cannot truly capture the pain we feel. Yet in the midst of our grief, we have been deeply moved by the overwhelming outpouring of love and support. It has been a source of great comfort to see just how many lives Richard touched, and how widely he was admired and respected.

“At this time, we kindly ask for privacy as we come to terms with life without him. In the days and weeks ahead, we will take strength from one another and from the knowledge that Richard’s legacy — both in boxing and as a man — will continue to live on. Richard’s memory will forever remain in our hearts, in the hearts of his fans, and in the sport he loved so dearly.”

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Oasis are expected to remember Ricky Hatton at their concert later this month, the champion was a humble, down-to-earth hero to generations of fans, his family said today

Oasis are set to pay a special tribute to the boxer Ricky Hatton at the next UK gig of their comeback tour. Fans braved pouring rain to leave tributes in Manchester as his loved ones told of the devastating loss of a giant of the ring.

The legendary band from Hatton’s hometown are expected to remember the star at their next gig at Wembley on September 27. The much-loved champion was a humble, down-to-earth hero to generations of fans, his family said today.

He left behind parents Carol and Ray, children Campbell, Millie, Fearne and granddaughter Lyla following his tragic death at 46 on Sunday. The Mirror told how the Gallagher brothers were set to see Hatton’s comeback fight in Dubai in December.

In a statement, the Hatton family told how he was ‘so much more than a world champion’ to them. His close friends Liam and Noel Gallagher are set to remember him during a performance of ‘Live Forever’ at Wembley.

During the first show of their comeback tour at the Principality Stadium, Cardiff, in July, an image of late Liverpool star Diogo Jota was projected on massive screens to a huge applause from the 75,000-strong crowd.

A similar tribute is set to be held for Ricky later this month. Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham promised that the city would also ‘find a way of honouring him properly’.

“Ricky was much loved by so many in Greater Manchester,” he said. “He was the kind of person who would always turn up for people, supporting so many causes. He made us smile and made us proud. Rest in peace, Champ.”

In their statement, the Hatton Family said: “To us he was simply ‘Richard’, our son. A loving father, grandfather, and brother, and a true friend to many. He had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him,” they added. He was ‘one of boxing’s greatest champions, who gave everything inside the ring and wore his heart on his sleeve outside of it’. They went on: “He inspired generations with his fighting spirit, his humility, and his love for the sport.”

Fans braved driving rain to remember the People’s Champion at his mansion, called ‘The Heartbreak’. His three-wheeled yellow Reliant Robin, used in the filming of the BBC show ‘Only Fools and Horses’, was outside, with a Union Jack painted telephone box in the back garden.

A floral tribute left by former coach Billy Graham read: ‘Sorry I wasn’t there for you. Love Billy (The Preacher) x”. Police say there are not believed to be any suspicious circumstances behind Hatton’s death. Electrician David Hopper, 33, placed flowers outside the £1.75 m property in Gee Cross, Greater Manchester, during his lunch break. “I used to stay up with my dad to watch his fights on TV,” he said. “He was such a likeable person and that’s why he was so popular.” Marcus Atkinson, 55, said: “I met him on holiday in Tenerife. Ricky waited for my daughter to go back to the hotel for her phone so she could have a photograph with him. It made her holiday.” To Toby Daniels, 25, he was “still one of us, a lad from Hyde, who had done really well for himself”. He added: “He was our champion. If you saw him, he would always speak.” Ricky’s brother Matthew and ex-partner Jennifer Dooley called at the property as fans left flowers, scarves, shirts and boxing gloves. Matthew, also a boxer, shared photos on social media.

He wrote: “I love you Richard. See you on the other side X.” Oasis singer Liam Gallagher was “absolutely devastated” to hear of Hatton’s death, adding: “It was an absolute honour to know him and carry his belts. “RIP champ, live forever.” Adele Roberts, the radio presenter, described Hatton as an “amazing man”; Olympian Greg Rutherford said the loss was “utterly heartbreaking”. The pair competed alongside Hatton on the 16th season of Dancing On Ice. The popular fighter was also remembered as being “one of a kind” by former England star David Beckham, who posted photos of Hatton to his Instagram stories. It is believed Hatton put his mansion up for sale after splitting with actress Claire Sweeney, a friend and fellow Dancing on Ice contestant.

Boxing journalist Steve Bunce told BBC Radio 5 Live: “We used the cliche ‘people’s champion’. “But nobody had come close to what Ricky was before and nobody has come close to what Ricky was since. He fought with every part of his soul and fibre.” Hatton’s parents made a small gym in the basement of their pub when he was 12, and it was there that he honed his skills on a punching bag. He rose through amateur and domestic levels to pit his wits against elite boxers of his generation, including Kostya Tszyu, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao. Hatton achieved a staggering 43-0 record before his first loss at the hands of Mayweather at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas in 2007 and later campaigned to help those ‘suffering with their mental health’.

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara was rushed to hospital instead of the Emmy Awards as she suffered a medical emergency while getting ready for the award ceremony

Actress Sofia Vergara was forced to skip the Emmys on Sunday night after suffering a medical emergency while on the way to the prestigious award ceremony. The Modern Family star, 53, had spent all day getting ready to head to Los Angeles’ Peacock Theatre, but her plans changed right at the last minute.

She was struck down by an allergic reaction as she was about to get into the car and instead had to head to the emergency room. Sophia missed the red carpet and had a very different night than she had planned.

The actress took to Instagram to reveal why she was absent from the event and shared a picture of her swollen left eye, writing: “Didn’t make it to the Emmys but made it to the ER… Sorry, I had to cancel! Craziest eye [allergy] right before getting in the car!”

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Another picture showed her lying on a hospital bed, and she also shared a video showing her rinsing her eye out in a drinking water fountain. Sofia had been due to present atthe award during the ceremony, which was instead hosted by comedian Nate Bargatze.

Fans rushed to share their support to Sophia as one said: “Goodness! Sending you lots of love and healing.” Another added: “A speedy recovery for you.” Actor Terry Crews commented: “Oh no! Get well soon!” A fourth wrote: “Praying for a speedy recovery.”

Other presenters on the night included Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jude Law, Jason Bateman, Jennifer Coolidge, Colman Domingo and Tina Fey. Another famous face missing from the line-up was Eric Dane.

The actor, who recently went public with his ALS diagnosis, was due to take to the stage to present an award, but he was also absent from the show.

The appearance was scheduled to be his first big public outing since he opened up about his health in a Good Morning America interview over the summer.

The Grey’s Anatomy actor first announced his diagnosis in April in an interview with PEOPLE, saying: “I have been diagnosed with ALS. I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.

“I feel fortunate that I am able to continue working and am looking forward to returning to set of Euphoria next week. I kindly ask that you give my family and I privacy during this time.”

The big winners at the Emmy Awards on Sunday include Noah Wyle’s hit medical drama The Pitt, which was named Outstanding Drama Series.

Seth Rogan’s Apple TV Plus comedy The Studio also brought home gold along with UK TV drama Adolescence starring Stephen Graham.

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Reba McEntire, 70, is engaged to Rex Linn and announced the happy news just over a month after tragic passing of stepson Brandon Blackstock

Reba McEntire has confirmed she’s engaged to her long-term boyfriend, Rex Linn. The news comes just over a month after the heartbreaking death of her stepson, Brandon Blackstock.

The 70-year-old who appears on The Voice US alongside Niall Horan and Michael Buble appeared to confirm the news as the couple stepped out on the red carpet at the Emmy Awards on Sunday night.

For the first time, Rex was referred to as Reba’s fiancé rather than her boyfriend. Shortly after this, the country legend said, “We’re having a blast on Happy’s Place and so glad to be here tonight.”

While the NBC star did refer to the fact that they both star in the same sitcom, Happy’s Place, she did not deny that she and Rex are engaged when speaking to Zuri Hall.

The couple first met in the 1991 when they co-starred in The Gambler, but only started dating when they reconnected on the set of Young Sheldon in 2020. Reba has not been shy about her feelings for Rex and hopes for where the relationship would go. She told E! News last year that she was “truly committed” to Rex and said that she would be “okay” with marriage, despite having been married twice before.

“If that’s something he feels totally strong about, that’s fine with me. He’s never been married before. So, if he wants to experience that, I’m okay with that.”

One of Reba’s previous husbands was Narvel Blackstock, to whom she was married from 1989 to 2015. From a previous relationship, Narvel had a son, Brandon. In early August, Brandon, who used to be married to Kelly Clarkson, died. The talent manager has been living with cancer for three years before his passing. He was 48-years-old.

Reba and Rex attended the Emmys as the actress and singer was performing a tribute to The Golden Girls as part of their 40th anniversary celebrations. Reba was joined by Little Big Town’s Karen Farechild and Kimberly Schlapman to sing a rendition of the classic sitcom’s theme tune, Thank You For Being A Friend. They then presented the award for Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series.

The award went to Hacks’ Hannah Einbinder, who used her speech to share her favourite sports team, hit out at the American immigration enforcement agency and call for a free Palestine. “Go Birds, f*** ICE and free Palestine,” she said.

Steven Bartlett, known for his role in Dragons’ Den, posed a query about mortgages to money gurus Raoul Pal, Jaspreet Singh, and Humphrey Yang on an episode of The Diary Of A CEO podcast

Steven Bartlett, known for his role in Dragons’ Den and his popular podcast, The Diary of a CEO, recently sparked a surprising response from three top financial experts when he questioned whether getting a mortgage to build wealth was a “terrible idea.” The Plymouth-raised entrepreneur referred to an article he’d read which stated that more millionaires were choosing to rent rather than buy in the US, with the number reportedly tripling between 2019 and 2023.

He asked the finance gurus—Raoul Pal, Jaspreet Singh, and Humphrey Yang—to shed light on this trend. This led to a discussion about the pros and cons of renting versus buying.

Humphrey suggested that some people opt to live on the US coast due to high-paying jobs or frequent investments, but it could still be “slightly unaffordable” to purchase property in places like New York or Los Angeles, even with a good income.

Steven mentioned that the article suggested these individuals are prioritising “flexibility and liquidity” over property ownership, avoiding the “inconveniences” that come with it. He later queried if purchasing a property as a means to accumulate wealth was a “terrible idea”.

He shared that during his upbringing, he was always told that the path to follow was to get a job, save money, and then secure a mortgage—a route that seemed almost obligatory.

Jaspreet retorted that it was “one of the worst” pieces of advice you can give someone, to which Steven countered that it’s what everyone is doing and continues to do.

Steven observed that his mates also follow this path: “The first thing they do when they get a bit of money is they go and get a mortgage because that’s what their parents did and that’s what everyone’s always done. Is that a good idea?”

Raoul’s answer was a “yes and no,” highlighting that the economy is different now than when he was 25 and buying his first flat in London. He pointed out that back then, he would have had to pay 3.5 times his income for a property in the capital, but now an equivalent would cost 12 times as much, so renting “makes much more sense now.”

He further stated that a person’s main house isn’t an investment, as you tend not to sell it once you own it, though it can be considered an investment in “your future.”

Steven described the concept as an “optical illusion,” where you believe any money spent on rent will never be seen again, while paying into a house you own is akin to depositing your cash into a piggy bank.

Jaspreet argued that this isn’t “exactly true.” He went on to provide an example of buying a $500,000 (£367,000) house, putting down 20 per cent ($100,000, around £73,000), financing $400,000 (£294,000), and securing a 6.5 per cent mortgage over 30 years.

He said he’d pay $2,500 (£2,836) a month and build equity in his property (the amount of the property you own), but banks “understand the same game” and “frontload” your mortgage.

Jaspreet explained that when he pays his $2,500, it’s not $1,250 (£918) “going to principal” (buying it back) to build equity in his home and £1,250 towards interest—it’s “almost all” interest.

Looking back at his theoretical house purchase, he pointed out that during the initial 20 years, more than half the payment will go straight to the banker through interest, and only in year 21 does half the payment go towards equity.

However, over the years, many people will see fluctuations in interest rates, so they may opt to refinance, at which point the amortisation (payoff) process starts again, meaning they have to pay interest once more, and the “real equity” they’ve been building is simply “not there.”

Jaspreet continued: “This is why I say it’s not bad to buy a house. I think it’s great if you buy a house, but don’t treat your house like—like you said—don’t treat your house like an investment. Treat it like an expense.

“Buy it because you can afford it, because you want it, because you’re ready, but not because you’re going to build wealth.”

Boxing champion Ricky Hatton had a night out watching his favourite band, Oasis, just weeks before his death aged 46 as Liam Gallagher pays an emotional tribute

Boxer Ricky Hatton shared his deep love for Oasis just weeks before his death aged 46. He was sadly found dead at his home in Greater Manchester this weekend.

The sad news came just months after the fighter announced his comeback to the ring with a fight scheduled for December. Ricky, who was affectionately known as ‘The Hitman’ during his fighting career, described Liam and Noel Gallagher carrying out his two belts as one of the highlights of his career.

They became friends with each other, as Liam has issued a heartfelt tribute following Ricky’s death. Broadcaster Gordon Smart has now revealed that just three weeks ago, he attended Oasis’ reunion show with Ricky.

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In his own tribute, Gordon shared: “So many incredible memories thanks to this man. Only three weeks ago reminiscing at Oasis in Dublin over a Guinness. Gone far too soon. RIP Ricky. City did you proud today.”

Ricky had been vocal about his love for Oasis and Manchester City. He once said: “Ever since I was a kid, I wanted to be a boxing world champion, support Man City and listen to Oasis.

“But I became a four-time world champion in two weight classes, ended up boxing at the Etihad Stadium in front of 55,000 people, and became mates with Noel and Liam Gallagher over the years.”

During Sunday’s Manchester derby between Manchester City and Manchester United, both sides wore black armbands and a moment’s appreciation was observed pre-match for Ricky. Manager Pep Guardiola looked visibly emotional and offered his condolences during his pre-match interview with Sky Sports.

Liam also paid tribute as he shared: “Absolutely devastated to hear the news about RICKY HATTON it was an absolute honour to know him and carry his belts RIP CHAMP LIVE FOREVER LG x.”

His beloved Manchester City also paid tribute as they said: “Hatton wore sky blue shorts and used Blue Moon as his walkout song throughout his career.

“Ricky was one of City’s most loved and revered supporters, who will always be remembered for a glittering boxing career that saw him win world titles at welterweight and light-welterweight.

“Everyone at the club would like to send our heartfelt condolences to his family and friends at this difficult time.” Days before his death, Ricky headed to Tenerife, where he was seen belting out Oasis in a bar.

On Sunday, a spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: “We can confirm that we have found a body at an address on Bowlacre Road in Gee Cross at 6.45am today, Sunday, September 14. The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

In a statement released by his family, they said the former world champion “had a heart as big as his smile, and his kindness, humour and loyalty touched everyone who was lucky enough to know him.”

Ricky enjoyed a successful boxing career as he held numerous world championships, as well as UK titles and was named as Fighter of the Year back in 2015. He last fought professionally in 2012 but had been training ahead of his return to the ring, where he was due to fight Eisa Al Dah.