Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness reunite at Ricky Hatton’s funeral for the first time since addressing Top Gear rift rumours

Freddie Flintoff and Paddy McGuinness reunited at Ricky Hatton‘s funeral for the first time on Friday, just months after addressing Top Gear rift rumours. 

Hatton, a popular character who unified the light-welterweight division and won a world welterweight title, was found dead aged 46 at his Hyde home on September 14

His funeral was held at Manchester Cathedral with a whole host of celebrities attending to pay their respects.

Flintoff and McGuinness were spotted in the crowds, which marked the first time the pair had been publicly seen together since the latter addressed rumours of a rift. 

Also attendance at the funeral were the likes of the Rooneys, Hatton’s ex Claire Sweeney and Oasis star Gallagher, a long-time friend of Hatton who joined him on his ring walk once against Paulie Malignaggi in 2008. As he left the funeral with partner Debbie Gwyther, they each placed a hand on Hatton’s coffin.

McGuiness and Flintoff reunion followed on from McGuiness breaking his silence following the revelations that he was left furious with the BBC for not receiving a payout following Freddie’s Top Gear horror crash.

Flintoff revealed that he has not spoken to his former Top Gear co-host after suffering serious injuries when filming for the BBC TV show in December 2022, with a documentary released on Disney+ in April detailing his experiences and recovery.

McGuinness said it was a ‘privilege’ to have worked with Flintoff on the hugely popular show, which he called ‘lightning in a bottle’.

The cricket legend turned presenter had been driving a Morgan Super 3 three-wheeled sports car, which flipped and dragged him across the tarmac of Dunsfold Aerodrome in Surrey.

Flintoff received a £9m payout from the BBC following the crash, with the star having since criticised the corporation for treating him ‘like a piece of meat’ on Top Gear in a bid to attract more TV viewers.

But, as first reported by the Daily Mail’s Katie Hind, McGuinness – who was left without work when the TV show was axed in the wake of the crash – was disappointed he did not receive any compensation.

One source familiar with the former Take Me Out host McGuinness’ bewilderment told the Daily Mail: ‘Paddy was moaning because he had lost his job, the show went so really it was a case of him being made redundant.

‘It was a big income for him and suddenly it was gone after Freddie’s accident.

‘He couldn’t understand why he didn’t get a payout, I guess you can see his point. Freddie did get one but he was so badly injured.

‘His life changed, he didn’t leave the house for months and months and while it was sad for Paddy that his job had gone, he did go on to find other work.’

McGuinness opened up on his relationship with Flintoff, admitting his love for his former co-star, according to the Mirror.

‘I love Fred. He’s a good lad. It was only when I reflect on the things we did that I think what a privilege it is to have done that job.  Freddie and I still message. But everyone’s got busy lives.’

BBC insiders speculated that McGuinness’ upset at not getting a pay out may have been the reason why the Corporation created a new show, Paddy and Chris: Road Tripping alongside Chris Harris.

‘The talk at the Beeb is that was done to appease him,’ said one.

The pair had a clear chemistry on camera, and shared a close relationship, but the former cricketer expressed his concern that seeing his former co-star would bring back painful memories.

‘We’ve been in contact,’ he said. ‘When I saw Chris we hugged each other, he got upset and I got a little bit upset.

‘I feel bad I haven’t been more in contact with him and Paddy. I think there were some comments that I’ve not spoken with Paddy for a while and part of it is for myself a little bit.

‘I hate the word triggering… but I’m worried about that. It’s also something that has stopped because of what’s happened to me. Their careers have been halted as well.

‘So I feel bad for them and also it’s like what happened gets dragged up enough in my own head without adding to that (by seeing them).’

Hatton’s funeral also saw several other celebrities such as darts legend Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, Coronation Street actor Bruce Jones, TV personality Calum Best, ex-Manchester City footballer Paul Dickov, sports presenter Chris Kamara and EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney united in grief

As mourners arrived at the cathedral, a brass band played Winter Wonderland, synonymous with his fans’ chant ‘There’s Only One Ricky Hatton’, which rang round the many stadiums he fought in.

Hundreds of people outside broke into applause as the cortege arrived. Several shouts of ‘go on Ricky’ were heard and people sang ‘There’s Only One Ricky Hatton’.

The service was played to the crowds outside the cathedral and Hatton’s son Campbell, who followed his father into the boxing ring, paid an emotional tribute, saying: ‘I can’t explain how much I’m going to miss you, dad, and that we won’t be making any new memories – but the ones we did I will cherish forever.’

He added: ‘Growing up I looked up to my dad in every aspect of life whether it be following in a career in boxing like he did or the way he carried himself out of the ring. But all of that was fuelled by the love I had and always will have for him.

‘I am so proud of my dad that it’s hard to put into words. Not just his boxing career, the one-of-a-kind fanbase and the things that made him the People’s Champion but because of how happy we all were when we were all together.’

Hatton’s daughter Fearne, 12, said: ‘Over the 12 years I have had with you, we have made so many memories. The memories I have loved the most was when we were at your house watching Grown Ups or being in the games room playing darts.’

And his daughter Millie, 13, said: ‘I cherish all the memories we had – singing Oasis in the car, in particular Live Forever… just seeing your face in general.

‘Although you were the greatest boxer and I am forever proud of all you achieved in the ring, my favourite times with you were when we were just in the house singing Oasis and watching Grown Ups. I miss you unconditionally, daddy.’

Hatton’s mother Carol said in a statement read on her behalf: ”The Hitman’ was adored by his army of fans – the People’s Champion, and he would say that’s how he would want to be remembered. Long before this accolade he was our little champion from the day he was born.’

Before the service, Bez from the Happy Mondays told reporters: ‘He was one of the great ambassadors of the city. One of the great champions. I got to know him very well down the years.’

Outside the cathedral, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham told Sky Sports News: ‘Ricky was a true working class hero and you can tell that by the numbers that are here outside.

‘When I was elected mayor, I would turn up and he’d be there at a corner of an event, sometimes a very low-key event. He turned up for people – you can’t say that about everybody in life but Ricky turned up for people, and that really matters.

‘He’s one of Britain’s best ever fighters. He should be remembered first and foremost for getting to the top of his game and for giving that pride to this place in the country.’

Well-wishers gathered around the cathedral ahead of the service.

Among them was Jay Dodds, 36, who took an early train from Durham to the city to pay her respects.

She recalled meeting Hatton for a photo opportunity after she attended a speaking event in Cardiff in which he appeared alongside Bruno.

Ms Dodds said: ‘He was just a nice lad who was really down to earth. He didn’t think he was any better than you. Some celebs think they are and don’t have time for you, but not him. He had a good crack with us. A bit of banter.’

Ms Dodds, who watched Hatton’s triumphant Homecoming bout against Juan Lazcano at the Manchester Arena, added: ‘Meeting him in person wasn’t a disappointment. He was an entertainer, but he was just normal.’

Steve and Julie Coleman, both 66, from Audenshaw, said they knew the Hatton family well and had holidayed together.

Mrs Coleman said: ‘We went on a couple of Caribbean cruises. We used to leave him on the beach because when he became famous we couldn’t get from one place to the other because people would stop him for autographs and a chat.

‘He would talk to everybody. He was a proper family man and just funny. Really funny. His mum and dad are funny. Ricky was just proper rooted and grounded.’

Mr Coleman said: ‘He was one of the lads. Simple as that.’

Terry Rotirs, 70, from Hattersley, said he first met Hatton in their home town when the former boxer was aged 13.

He said: ‘He has done well for Hattersley and Manchester, plus he’s a City supporter. He was a bit of a lad when he was kid but just a normal teenager.

‘When he was older and became famous he still said hello to you if you saw him in the street. He was very likeable.’

Earlier, as mourners reflected on Hatton’s life and times, the funeral cortege departed from the Cheshire Cheese pub – his local – on Stockport Road in Hyde and travelled to Harehill Tavern before doves were released in his honour at The New Inn.

In a nod to Hatton’s love of classic TV comedy Only Fools and Horses, his yellow Reliant Robin van formed part of the cortege, transported on a low-loader trailer.

Some of the mourners waved Manchester City flags emblazoned with ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton’ as the cortege drove by the Cheshire Cheese at 9.45am.

Hundreds stood outside the pub to pay their respects and they burst into a respectful applause as the ‘Trotters Independent Trading Co’ van owned by Hatton stopped.

Many mourners placed flowers and tributes on the low-loader transporting the vehicle. Hatton’s body was in a blue coffin with ‘Blue Moon’ etched on the side.

Among the mourners was super fan James Bowes, 36, who first met Ricky in 2002 and told the Daily Mail: ‘I went to every fight with him. I even went to Las Vegas. 

‘I used to carry his belts out into the ring to Blue Moon. People used to asked me if the belts were heavy. But they weren’t for me! If it wasn’t for him I would have never got to the fights. 

‘Ricky was my best friend. I just wish he was still here to see all this. And what he meant to people. He will only be my only fighter. Even when there were other celebrities in the room, it was only Ricky.’

Fighting back tears, landlord of the Cheshire Cheese Tony Cooper, 57, said: ‘He was a local lad and this was his home from home.

‘He would come in, have a Guinness watch the football and just be himself. He was a nice genuine man. He will be missed.’

Regulars at the Shepherds Call – close to Hatton’s gym – raised their glasses as the cortège drove past.

Other mourners – some wearing Manchester City shirts, flags and waving flags – lined both sides of the street across from Energie Fitness – Hatton’s gym. The gym was closed today.

Fans clapped and released balloons and set off blue flares. Rita Ellis, 60, told the Mail: ‘He was just a decent bloke. There weren’t any airs and graces about him, and had time for everyone. He deserves this turnout today. He was one of us!’

Rob Knowles, 27, took a day off work to pay his respects. The internet installer said: ‘I didn’t know him but sometimes people have an impact on your life.

‘I grew up watching his fights and I think it meant more because he lived just down the road and there was always a chance of seeing him in the street.

‘Everyone wanted to be a boxer and be Ricky Hatton. It’s a sad day but a great turn out for a great champion.’

Phill Benson, 46, set off from Doncaster at 5.45am to pay his respects.

Mr Benson, who runs The Rock Boxing Academy, said: ‘He was my idol. A proper boxer. He was a man, who made his names, became a world champion, but never changed. He was down to earth and that’s why people liked him.

‘He never moved away from where he lived. I used to watch all his fights and he was my favourite fighter. He didn’t talk trash and just got on with his boxing. As the with the song, there will only ever be one Ricky.’

Danny Atkinson, 35, said: ‘I trained at his brother’s gym and Ricky Hatton was one of my first heroes. I used to see him locally all the time.

‘It is not often a world famous boxer and champion lives in your village, hence the turnout. He meant a lot to so many people.’

Darren Johnson, 63, met Ricky in a KFC restaurant. He said: ‘He was with his children but he still made time to have his photograph taken with my wife.

‘That’s the sort of person he was. He was a true champion, a local lad and very well respected.’

There was a pause at Hatton’s Gym before the hearse continued on to Manchester Cathedral via Hyde Town Hall, Betta Bodies gym in Denton and the AO Arena.

The AO Arena is where he enjoyed some of his finest nights, the highlight indisputably being a win over the celebrated Kostya Tszyu on a raucous night 20 years ago to capture his first world title.

Following a private memorial service, which ran from 12pm to 1pm, the procession made its way from the cathedral to the Etihad Stadium, home of Hatton’s beloved Manchester City. Entry to the service was by invitation only.

News of Hatton’s death was announced just hours before the Manchester derby at Eastlands, with a minute’s applause held immediately ahead of kick-off by players and fans of both City and United.

It was just one of innumerable tributes to the ‘Hitman’, including from former world heavyweight champions Frank Bruno, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, fellow Briton Amir Khan, one-time foe Manny Pacquiao and Roberto Duran, Hatton’s hero.

Hatton’s all-action style brought him 45 wins and three defeats from 48 contests but it was his down-to-earth demeanour that especially endeared him to fellow professionals and fans around the world.

That was evidenced by tens of thousands following him to Las Vegas, where he fought the two pound-for-pound greatest fighters of his era in Floyd Mayweather and Pacquiao, with stories of UK fans singing ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton’ and drinking Sin City dry going down in boxing folklore.

Hatton suffered his first professional defeat when he was stopped by Mayweather in 2007 while a vicious second-round knockout by Pacquiao two years later precipitated his fall from top-level boxing.

A misguided comeback attempt against Vyacheslav Senchenko in 2012 marked the first public admission Hatton was struggling to cope in retirement.

He was a tireless ambassador for mental health charities as well as Manchester-based Barnabus, which supports homeless and vulnerable people, and turned his hand to being a successful trainer in an attempt to fill the void.

Having participated in a no-scoring exhibition against Mexico’s Marco Antonio Barrera in 2022, Hatton announced in July he would return to the ring in a professional bout in Dubai in December.

He had resumed training and his family said he had been ‘in a good place’ and ‘excited for the future’ before his death, for which Greater Manchester Police said there were no suspicious circumstances.

Hatton’s son Campbell said last week that his family had been taking comfort in public support and the memories of a stellar career since his death last month.

But Campbell, whose retirement after 19 fights was confirmed earlier this year, also admitted the devastating news was still sinking in.

‘We’re absolutely heartbroken, as you can imagine. It’s so unexpected and we had so many big plans coming, so it’s knocked us all for six,’ he told Granada Reports.

‘We’re just trying to be there for each other at the minute. The outpouring of support from absolutely everyone has been amazing, so that’s helping us through a lot. But we’re absolutely heartbroken.

‘To so many he was Ricky Hatton the boxer, but to me he was just dad and to the family he was Richard. We can’t get our heads around things at the minute, it’s absolutely awful. It’s hard to explain.

‘You see all the clips from years ago on social media, the old memories we hadn’t seen for years and as much as it’s heartbreaking, it brings a smile to our faces.

‘Especially with dad being the character he was, doing the things he would in the build up when you would see his sense of humour shining through. That gives us a lot of comfort, as hard as it is.’

Speaking about the procession route which will allow people to pay their respects, Campbell said: ‘That’s exactly what he would have wanted. He saw his biggest achievement in boxing as his fanbase, that’s what he was most proud of.

‘He would want the street to be filled with people, there celebrating his life. Everything he did, he did for his fans.’

A family statement issued via Hatton’s Instagram account after his death said the star had been found by his long-time manager, Paul Speak.

‘We are all distraught at the events of recent days,’ the statement began. ‘To all our knowledge, despite his well-documented struggles, Richard was in a good place.

‘He was excited for the future; his bag was packed ready to go to Dubai to promote a comeback fight and he was planning a celebration in Dubai, which his beloved girls Millie and Fearne were to be the centre of.’

His family said Hatton had been excited about the prospect of his daughters Millie and Fearne seeing him fight in person for the first time, and that he had ‘not been alone in life or in the days before the weekend’.

The statement continued: ‘He was a doting grandfather and loved spending time with Campbell and Lyla. Richard planned to spend more time in Tenerife.

‘Richard had spoken to his family and his team in the days and weeks before the weekend. He had dinner with his girls on Friday night, and Richard was not alone in life or in the days before the weekend.

‘We are all in shock at the events that unfolded over the weekend. Richard was found by his friend and long-time manager Paul Speak, who we are supporting at this time along with Richard’s parents, Ray and Carol, his children and the wider family.

‘The outpouring of grief and love from the nation and worldwide shows how much Richard was loved. It will, in time, be something that gives us all some comfort and pride.

‘For now, however, we would like to have a period of private and personal mourning. The priority for us all is to ensure the wellbeing and support of Richard’s children and granddaughter.’