TRICKY HATTON Hitman’s bid to be knockout magician
Roxy sent hunk six-packing
JOHN MAHONEY BOXING legend Ricky Hatton aims to use his fast hands to become a top magician. The Hitman is famous for his wizardry in the ring that won him world titles at two different weights. Now he wants to do card tricks, make coins vanish and pull rabbits out of hats. But it might take more than a bit of magic to heal Hatton’s family problems, which have seen him alienated from his parents and his long-term partner Jennifer Dooley. Ricky, 38, spent the festive period with boozing buddies in Tenerife and was left spellbound by a magician who went round the tables in his favourite bar. He begged the entertainer to reveal the secrets of his baffling stunts. The conjurer stayed true to The Magic Circle’s code of confidentiality and puzzled Ricky was left in the dark. But on the plane home to Hyde, Manchester, Hatton vowed he was going to learn some of the tricks to impress his mates. A source at his Manchester gym said: “There was one trick in Tenerife which blew him away. “He picked a card, looked at it and put it back in the pack – and it appeared in the mouth of the conjuror. He couldn’t believe it. “He was joking that the only problem he might have is his fingers being too chunky for the more delicate tricks. “But he’s definitely got the bug and wants to learn this trade. He loves it.” Father-of-three Ricky has battled booze and drug demons, which saw him booted out of the family’s £3 million home six months ago by fiancée Jennifer, 35. He tweeted: “Great time in Tenerife with pals. Good job I’ve got pals that are concerned about me, because my family and ex couldn’t give a f…” Ricky has not spoken to mum Carol, 63, or dad Ray, 65, for six years in row over money that is still at the centre of a legal dispute. He admitted: “I have come to accept that I am never going to speak to my parents again.” RACY Roxanne Pallett’s romance with Let It Shine wannabe Harry Neale was a let-down. The ex-Emmerdale actress – sizzling in a black one-piece in our exclusive photoshoot – had a six-month fling with the singer in 2013. A source close to the actress said: “Roxy and her pals cringe about the time she spent with Harry. “She told friends it was his fiery nature that pushed her away. “Also, Harry spent a lot of time in the gym and she had different priorities. “She values conversation and intelligence more than a ED GLEAVE six-pack, so they were worlds apart.” Roxanne and Harry were in a touring production of The Rocky Horror Picture Show when they dated.
Our source added: “Everyone on the tour recalls him being very possessive of Roxanne.
“She was always apologising for him. He would often storm off when anyone tried to talk to her.” Fame-hungry Harry has tried out for Britain’s Got Talent in the past and now aims to land a role in a Take That musical on the BBC series. He was back in the headlines last week thanks to his past with Roxanne. Our source said: “Roxy wasn’t surprised when she found out he was on the show. People who knew them could see how keen he was to be on TV. “They all thought he was desperate for fame, which got worse when his relationship with Roxy gave him a taste of the limelight.” Harry won over Let It Shine judge Dannii Minogue by flashing his physique at his audition, inset. But our source added: “Roxy says her relationship with Harry has put her off muscled guys. She’s more keen on someone brainy.”