Tom Parker, a member of the UK Boy band The Wanted along with Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness and Nathan Sykes, has died after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor. He was 33.
Parker’s wife Kelsey Hardwick wrote on Instagram that he had “passed away peacefully earlier today.”
“It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom’s passing,” she wrote. “Our hearts are broken. Tom was the centre of our world and we can’t imagine life without his infectious smile and energetic presence. We are truly thankful for the outpouring of love and support and ask that we all unite to ensure Tom’s light continues to shine for his beautiful children.”
Parker was born on August 4 1988 in Bolton Northern Ireland. He auditioned for The X Factor but didn’t get past the producers round. It’s an experience that almost led him to quit music altogether.
“I was 16 and it shattered me. I didn’t sing for two years. There was a girl who was really terrible at the same audition who got through,” Parker admitted to Metro. “It turned out she was one of the people they put in the show to laugh at.”
Parker eventually appeared on The X Factor when The Wanted performed their single ‘Lose My Mind on a results show in November 2010.
The Wanted formed in 2009, released their debut album the following year. Glad You Came, number one in the UK, made it to number three on the US Billboard chart.
He appeared on the BBC’s Celebrity Masterchef, in 2015, and, the following year, finished third in Channel 4’s The Jump.
Parker married Kelsey Hardwick in 2018. They had a baby daughter the following year and were expecting a second child when Parker’s diagnosis was made public in 2020.
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