My ex Ricky Hatton’s 36-hr benders nearly killed him – I’m stunned he’s on Dancing on Ice…I’ve only seen him do The Worm
DANCING on Ice will help Ricky Hatton’s fight against depression and addiction, his former girlfriend reveals.
After quitting boxing in 2009, Ricky, now 45, was taking cocaine and drinking 25 pints of Guinness a day during a struggle with depression.
A year later The Hitman, as he was known in the sport, ended up in rehab.
Now beauty therapist Angela Blemmings, who dated the Manchester welterweight legend last year, tells The Sun that Ricky is conquering his demons.
And she says that the challenge of vying to be crowned king of the ice rink on the ITV show will stave off the dark thoughts that have plagued him since he hung up his gloves.
Angela explains: "Boxers retire and then they go do another fight, because they’ve got nothing to stimulate them. So that can and does cause mental health problems and depression.
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“If things do keep coming for him TV-wise and other stuff, he’s then keeping himself out there and busy, and that way he’s not just sat at home doing nothing with no goals in life."
Ricky’s benders could last for a day and a half, with him using drugs to prolong the marathon sessions.
He insisted, though, that he had a mental health problem rather than alcoholism.
Thanks to counselling, Ricky has managed to get his suicidal thoughts under control, and that has led him to stop trying to blank out the terrible feelings with huge amounts of booze.
Angela says: “He’s doing really well. He did tell me that he used to go to the pub and drink for days and days.
“He still likes the drink, but that’s part of who he is and he lives a very social life. But he doesn’t drink like he used to".
She sees similarities between Ricky and world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, who has also battled mental health issues and considered ending his life.
The two boxers are both extroverts with massive amounts of energy to burn. Sometimes they feel incredibly positive about life, and other times very negative.
He used to go to the pub and drink for days and days
Angela Blemmings
Angela says: "I’ve seen the Fury situation and it sometimes reminds of Ricky, with the mood going up and down and how the people around him manage it."
She mixed in similar circles to Ricky in and around Manchester before falling for him while out with mutual friends.
Angela, who runs a beauty and aesthetic training centre, explains: “We’ve known each other for years. We have mutual friends in common.
"So when we actually got together we met through mutual friends. That’s how we got closer and ended up getting together.”
'Only Fools' moment
Angela enjoyed his ready wit and the fact that he didn’t take himself too seriously.
She told how Ricky once re-enacted the famous scene from Only Fools and Horses, where Del Boy falls through a bar.
Angela recalls: “Richard is very, very funny. He’ll just come out with funny jokes, he’ll randomly do something silly and make you laugh.
“One time he said, ‘Angela, film this.’ And he passed me his phone.
“And he sort of went to lean on the bar and he fell through the bar. I didn’t actually realise he meant to do that, but he was basically just trying to make me laugh.
"I was jumping up shouting, ‘No, no!’ thinking he’d fell.”
The couple got close enough for Angela to hang out with his daughters Millie, 11, and Fearne, ten, but never spoke about marriage during their year-long relationship.
I personally don’t think he’s ready to get married right now
Angela Blemmings
And Angela doubts that Ricky, who has three children and was engaged to Jennifer Dooley, will ever walk down the aisle.
She says: “I personally don’t think he’s ready to get married right now, but maybe he might do in the future.”
Since breaking up with Angela, Ricky has been dating Playboy model Chelsea Claire, who is 14 years younger than him.
But Angela remains good friends with Ricky despite their split.
She says: “Me and Richard have been on and off all year, we’re still good friends.
"I might not speak to him for a couple of weeks, but we talk. But we are still very close.”
TV's most dangerous show
Ricky will have to impress judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo and Oti Mabuse when the new series begins.
The boxer will be up against the likes of the daring Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, Coronation Street actress Claire Sweeney and S Club 7 singer Hannah Spearritt.
It's probably TV’s most dangerous reality show, with contestants often breaking bones in horror falls.
Gogglebox star Stephen Lustig-Webb had to quit this year’s competition after suffering an ankle injury.
Angela was surprised that her ex decided to sign up for Dancing on Ice.
The only dancing I’ve seen him doing is The Worm
Angela Blemmings
She says: “The only dancing I’ve seen him doing is the worm dance when we’ve been out.
“I’m struggling to picture him turn into a butterfly on the ice rink, but he’s always full of surprises so I’m looking forward to seeing that.”
But she wouldn’t rule him out as a contender.
Angela comments: “Last year he had his comeback fight in November and he was at his best when he had a challenge.”
Ricky, who had no ice-skating experience, started training like a true sportsman.
She continues: “I was like, ‘Oh, what are you doing, that is a real challenge you can’t even skate’.
“I said, ‘Do you think you can do it?’ He said, ‘Yeah.’ He’s been training really hard.
“He’s excited about it, baby steps. He did show me some videos when he started training which was quite funny to see.”
The couple also talked about Ricky entering the jungle for I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here.
She reveals: “There were discussions about other shows between Richard and I but I think to be honest with you I’m A Celeb he’d find quite easy.”
The boxer has also battled with his bulging waistline over the years.
Angela thinks that Ricky wants to be fit and healthy from now on, adding: "He said to me never again is he going to get to the weight he was.”
Depression, though, is likely to continue to rear its ugly head.
Angela concludes: “It wasn’t that bad when we were together. So I had him at his best, but there were days when he did have bad days and when he had those bad days he was very, very quiet, withdrawn.
“Mental health isn’t black or white. So it’s not something you can say he had it and now he hasn’t got it.
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“But he’s found strategies to deal with his mental health.”
For help and support, contact The Samaritans on 116 123 or visit samaritans.org.
