Mick Hucknall’s extraordinary love life: Simply Red star boasted he had ‘three lovers a day’ while dating Catherine Zeta-Jones, Helena Christensen and Martine McCutcheon – as he reignites his fiery side with on-stage rant

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Most people probably recognize Mick Hucknall as the frontman of the famous band Simply Red, and assume his music is what he’s most known for.

The musician recently received negative attention for a public outburst at a concert, but this isn’t the first time his behavior has overshadowed his music.

The 65-year-old singer, once known for claiming he had ‘three lovers a day,’ had many famous girlfriends in the 1990s. His relationships included surprising pairings with stars like Martine McCutcheon, Catherine Zeta-Jones, and Helena Christensen.

Throughout his successful music career, Mick hasn’t been afraid to argue with others in the industry, famously feuding with people like the Gallagher brothers, Steve Coogan, and even those at his own record label.

During the band’s 40th anniversary tour, Mick unexpectedly scolded a fan at a concert for being too loud while he was performing.

Considering everything Mick has done, both at work and in his personal life, anyone who believes this is the end of his troubles simply doesn’t understand him at this point.

Mick has dated a string of famous and beautiful women over the years. His former partners include Catherine Zeta-Jones (they dated in 1998), Ulrika Jonsson, model Helena Christensen, Melanie Sykes, Lady Victoria Hervey, and tennis star Steffi Graf.

Mick also famously dated actress Martine McCutcheon. She has recounted a particularly unfortunate date in 1996 where she allegedly became ill and vomited in his hair, a story he strongly rejects and calls untrue.

One of his admirers, Brigitte Nilsen, playfully described the singer as not particularly handsome, but suggested she understood why so many women were attracted to him, calling him ‘outrageous, friendly, and really cool’.

Considering his history of controversial behavior, it’s not surprising his new concert film includes a warning for mature content. The film features songs about sex and drinking, and the singer has openly discussed his past struggles with alcohol and drug use, even admitting to experimenting with various substances.

Mick, once known for his wild behavior, now lives a more settled life with his wife, Gabriella Wesberry, whom he married in 2005 at Forter Castle in Scotland, and their daughter, Romy True, who is 17 years old.

In a 2010 interview, Mick famously revealed that during 1985-1987, he was having sex with roughly three women daily.

I always said yes to what came with being a pop star, and that’s exactly what I wanted. I was living my dream, and my only regret is the pain I caused to some wonderful women.

A 2004 documentary called *Is She Really Going Out With Him?* fueled rumors by alleging the singer had relationships with over 3,000 women.

In 2006, when the Daily Mail questioned him about rumors of affairs, Mick admitted to them, saying it was simply a part of life and a way of seeking validation – wanting to be loved and admired.

Generally, the main cause was alcohol. If you visit any city center on a weekend night, you’ll see this happening everywhere.

It’s not really anything special, but because the person involved is well-known, it gets a lot of attention and is often exaggerated. In the end, it doesn’t bring true happiness.

In 2012, he attempted to clarify his previous statement, explaining to the Irish Independent that there was a difference between what he actually said in the original interview and how it was presented by the editor.

‘I didn’t apologise to 3,000 women. The 3,000 wasn’t my figure. That was the editor’s figure.’ 

In 2019, Mick once more refuted the story, stating that the interview where he discussed his past relationships was heavily misinterpreted.

In an interview with The Sunday Times, the singer clarified a previous statement. He explained that when he joked about feeling like he was ‘sleeping with three women a day’ during his hectic touring days, he wasn’t being literal – it was just a way to describe the overwhelming attention he received from fans.

The singer acknowledged that he used to live a wild lifestyle during his most successful years, including heavy drinking and drug use.

He went on to say in the frank interview that his past confessions were ‘conflated’. 

When directly asked what the actual number was, he responded that he had no clue, and jokingly added that he doesn’t place chips on bedposts.

‘I haven’t a clue and have never thought about calculating.’

He tried to romance Brigitte Nielsen, and things got awkward when he invited her to join him for a bath after she unexpectedly showed up at his Manchester apartment around 3 a.m. However, his attempt at wooing her was unsuccessful.

Oh my god, she actually *said* it! It was exactly how I always imagined! He filled the bathroom – her bathroom, a *purple* bathroom, can you believe it? – with candles, put on some music, and then… they got in the water. Just picturing it gives me chills. It’s so… intimate. She finally confirmed it! I’ve read that passage of her autobiography a million times, and it still feels like a dream come true knowing exactly how it happened.

While she did take a dip with the hitmaker, things went no further.  

Mick isn’t handsome, but he has a unique charm. He looks like someone who’s aware he’s a bit wild, yet approachable and genuinely cool, she explained.

I wasn’t planning anything, but somehow we ended up taking a bath together. We had a deep conversation, but nothing romantic happened. Honestly, there’s no way I would have slept with him, even if someone had offered me money.

Martin McCutcheon shared a kind memory of the star during an interview on Loose Women, recalling him as a ‘gentleman’ when they dated in 1996. He was particularly gracious after she accidentally got sick in his dreadlocks on their way home from a night out.

I was chatting with someone recently, and they were telling me about their dreadlocks. They had them for a while, and they described how they used to really *move* – they’d flick around everywhere! But, sadly, they ended up having to cut them all off not long after. It’s always tough when you have to let go of a look you love, isn’t it?

The former EastEnders star said they stayed in touch and remained friends after what happened. However, Mick was very upset by something she said on the show Loose Women, so he used X (formerly Twitter) to share his own version of events.

The singer accused Martine of repeatedly talking about a false story, clarifying that she actually threw up in the car, not on his hair, and that the driver was very angry about it.

Oh my god, he was *completely* out of it, we literally had to carry him to bed. Someone – he’ll totally confirm this, I just *know* it – is trying to make it sound like it wasn’t a big deal, like it was just a little stumble. It’s such a lame excuse, honestly, just trying to save face!

‘So pls desist, show a little grace. You embarrass yourself with your sad little fantasy.’

Mick has often clashed with other famous people during his career in the spotlight.

Certain experiences have affected people deeply, and for Mick, a particularly painful one was his long-term estrangement from his mother, Maureen. She left when he was only three years old, and they remained distant for most of his life.

Raised in Manchester by his father, Reg, who passed away in 2009, the musician achieved fame in the 1980s with popular songs like “Money’s Too Tight To Mention” and “Holding Back The Years.” The latter was inspired by the sadness of growing up without a mother.

I was really shocked to read in The Sunday Mirror back in 2015 that Mick had such a difficult childhood. He shared that not only did his mother leave him, but he also discovered she’d lied about being sick with cancer. It’s just heartbreaking to think about everything he went through.

His mother didn’t speak to him until he became famous in the mid-1990s, at which point she reached out, telling him she had cancer.

He flew to Dallas, Texas, to be with her, only to discover she wasn’t sick. Instead, she revealed how much his leaving had hurt her feelings.

It’s just… people with traditional families, they *don’t* get it, you know? They can’t grasp what it was like for him. It wasn’t just losing a mom, it was… different. Dad never remarried, never even *tried* to find someone to fill that role. There wasn’t even a mother figure to replace her, and it really messed with him, honestly. It’s hard to explain if you haven’t lived it, but it was a unique kind of loss.

I’m completely at peace with my relationship with my father, and that’s all that matters to me. I wish her well, and I don’t hold any resentment.

‘She wasn’t there and consequently I don’t even know her. End of.’

In 2000, Mick had a long disagreement with his record label, Warner, after they released the compilation album *It’s Only Love* without his approval.

The singer ultimately gained ownership of half of his older songs. However, in 2009, he sued his record label, EMI, for £30,000 over a 1996 compilation album of Simply Red’s greatest hits.

Mick criticized Warner in a 2003 interview with The Financial Times, calling their contract ‘basically immoral’.

Similar to many artists, my contract required me to cover all recording and marketing expenses upfront. I didn’t start receiving any royalties until I had paid for those costs.

However, the contract clearly stated that the record company still owned the original recordings.

After leaving Warner, Mick has independently released all of Simply Red’s albums through his website, simplyred.com.

Oh my gosh, even the people who *live near* him aren’t safe! I read about this crazy thing that happened back in 2009 – he got into a huge fight with someone over hunting on this estate in Ireland he owned, along with another member of Simple Red. It was a total mess, apparently! You just *know* he doesn’t take kindly to anyone messing with his land.

In 2005, Mick and Chris De Margary purchased Glenmore Lodge near Ballybofey for around 1.3 million euros (about £1.09 million). They later took legal action against a neighbor, alleging that the neighbor was disrupting their sporting activities on the surrounding land.

The case was eventually settled in 2014, on the same day a full hearing had been due to take place.

Mick is known for holding onto anger, and actor Steve Coogan relates to this. Coogan ended a twenty-year friendship with Mick after Mick playfully teased him in the 2002 film, *24 Hour Party People*.

During his comedy routine, Steve joked – while impersonating both God and Factory Records boss Tony Wilson – that it was a shame Wilson hadn’t signed The Smiths.

‘But you were right about Mick Hucknall, his music’s rubbish… and he’s a ginger.’

Steve shared in 2023 that his friend at the time, Mick Hucknall, stopped talking to him after Steve made a joke about God criticizing Mick’s music.

Oh my god, you will NOT believe this! Back in ’98, Mick actually got into a *fight* with Liam Gallagher! Apparently, Liam was totally furious because Mick had said Oasis were, like, a disgrace to Manchester – can you imagine?! It happened in a hotel bar, a full-on brawl! I’ve read about it a million times, and it STILL blows my mind that these two music legends were throwing hands over something like that. It’s iconic, honestly!

He told Q Magazine: ‘Oasis gave this delinquent, thicko, ‘givin’ it large, sorted mate’ diatribe.’

I grew up in Manchester, and we just keep things real there. Honestly, some of the things I hear people say about it make me embarrassed, and I don’t have a high opinion of Noel Gallagher.

Mick immediately lashed out, but Liam insisted he was joking and fled the exchange.

A guest told The Mirror that Mick did well to stay calm, as Liam was deliberately provoking a reaction. Fortunately, the hotel’s security staff quickly stepped in to stop the situation from escalating.

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2025-10-19 09:36