Fans of the late Tom Parker struggled to contain their tears during the singer’s posthumous appearance on Pointless Celebrities, which aired on Saturday night after being brought forward with the blessing of his family.
The Wanted star, who passed away on Wednesday aged 33 after a battle with brain cancer, competed on the BBC show alongside his bandmate Max George – and the pair went onto win £2,500 for The Brain Tumour Charity and Brain Research UK.
Earlier in the day, his friend had taken to Instagram to pay tribute to Tom, admitting he had been left ‘heartbroken’ and that there was a ‘huge hole left in his life’.
Traguic: Fans of the late Tom Parker struggled to contain their tears during the singer’s posthumous appearance on Pointless Celebrities
‘Sobbing’ viewers confessed they found the episode to be ‘a tough watch’, and will be ‘forever proud’ of the Glad You Game songster.
Flooding to Twitter, they wrote: ‘That was so sad to watch but also heartwarming too. Thank you for doing this and thank you to Tom’s family for agreeing to let it be shown tonight.’
‘I’m sobbing. All happy and smiles and then that photo and i lost it.’
‘Pointless celebrities…a this evening. But a lovely tribute at the end. Well done @TomParker and @MaxGeorge @thewanted God bless your soul Tom, we love you.’
Yippee! The Wanted star competed on the BBC game show alongside bandmate Max George and the pair went on to win £2,500 for The Brain Tumour Charity and Brain Research UK
Sad: The episode, which was recorded weeks earlier, aired on Saturday night after being brought forward with the blessing of the singer’s family
Awful: Tom passed away on Wednesday aged 33 after a battle with brain cancer, and his posthumous appearance on the show left many viewers in tears
‘Just look how happy he was to win @TVsPointless @richardosman @XanderArmstrong. This meant the absolute world to @TomParker to raise money for brain cancer and brain tumours #weloveyoutom @MaxGeorge #RIPTomParker.’
‘Wasn’t sure I could handle watching but a lovely episode of pointless celebrities with @MaxGeorge and @TomParker.. they played a fantastic game.’
‘seeing his genuine excitement and happiness brought a lot of comfort tonight. i will forever be so proud of you @TomParker ❤️.’
Yippee! The pair went on to win £2,500 for The Brain Tumour Charity and Brain Research UK
Friend: Earlier in the day, Max had taken to Instagram to pay tribute to Tom, admitting he had been left ‘heartbroken’ and that there was a ‘huge hole left in his life’
Emotional: ‘Sobbing’ viewers confessed they found the episode to be ‘a tough watch’, and will be ‘forever proud’ of the Glad You Game songster
‘it was sad and happy watching #PointlessCelebrities they did amazing well done lads #TomParker @PointlessCelebrities.’
‘Woohoo!! So proud of you both @TomParker @MaxGeorge ❤️.’
‘What a moving #PointlessCelebrities that was. I’m sure I wasn’t the only one to cheer the winning answer. Bless you #TomParker I hope benefits from many donations tonight.’
Opening up: Flooding to Twitter, they wrote: ‘That was so sad to watch but also heartwarming too. Thank you for doing this and thank you to Tom’s family for agreeing to let it be shown tonight’
‘Love you forever @TomParker @MaxGeorge ❤️❤️❤️ I’m a bag of emotions right now #PointlessCelebrities.’
Just hours earlier, Max broke his silence and paid tribute to his bandmate three day’s after Tom passed away in a Saturday Instagram post.
Tom was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in October 2020, and given just 12 months to live by doctors. His wife Kelsey announced the news that he had passed away on Wednesday.
Love: Just hours earlier, Max broke his silence and paid tribute to his bandmate three day’s after Tom passed away in a Saturday Instagram post
Tom formed The Wanted with Max as well as Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, and Nathan Sykes.
Max penned in his tribute alongside snaps of them together: ‘Tom, my brother, my boy, my band mate, my best bud. You lit up so many lives all over the world but I can only speak on behalf of mine.
‘From the minute I met you, I knew this was gonna be a special chapter in my life. I was right. We did everything together, some amazing things, some outrageous things. Im so proud of what we achieved as band mates and as brothers.
‘I’m also proud that I was there the night you met Kels. I remember saying to you, ‘you like her don’t you?’.. to which you replied, ‘bro, like you wouldn’t believe’. You two really are like peas and carrots.
Upset: The singer, 33, took to Instagram on Saturday three day’s after Tom passed away – to say that he was ‘heartbroken’ and that there was a ‘huge hole left in his life’
‘Thank you for choosing me as your friend. It was an honour from day one. I’m so grateful I was with you until the very end. The courage and dignity I have witnessed over the last few months surpassed the lion I already knew you were.
‘The huge hole now left in my life will forever be there, but I know your spirit will live on through your two beautiful babies, your wonderful wife, our music, your fans and in my heart.
‘I’m heartbroken beyond words right now and I cannot even begin to imagine what the future holds without you, but whatever I do going forward, even on my darkest days, I can always smile and say, ‘I shared the stage with Tom Parker’.
‘I am going to miss you so much. I love you mate. Always. George.’
Hard: Tom was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in October 2020, and given just 12 months to live by doctors
The tragic news of Tom’s death was confirmed by his wife Kelsey who he leaves behind along with their two children, Aurelia and Bodhi.
Kelsey said: ‘It is with the heaviest of hearts that we confirm Tom passed away peacefully earlier today with all of his family by his side.
‘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.’
Tribute: Tom formed The Wanted with Max as well as Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, and Nathan Sykes
She went on to thank everyone who has cared for Tom during his illness, adding that he fought the disease until the very end.
Just last month, Tom announced he had written a book, Hope: My Inspirational Journey, about ‘carrying on against all odds’. It will be published in July.
After his death was announced the band posted a joint tribute to the star, while on Thursday, Siva shared his own message.
Siva posted a video of The Wanted bandmates hugging on stage with the caption ‘we’ll always be there for you brother,’ 24 hours after Tom passed away with his bandmates by his side.
Heartbroken: Max penned in his tribute: ‘Tom, my brother, my boy, my band mate, my best bud. You lit up so many lives all over the world but I can only speak on behalf of mine’
Siva used the band’s 2011 single Gold Forever on the video. The track has now reached number one on iTunes UK in the day since Parker’s death following a campaign from fans.
The video showed Siva and his bandmates embracing Tom on stage during The Wanted charity gig last year, with Siva writing in the caption:
‘Always & Forever ❤️ Our Tommy boy. Say my name like it’s the last time, Live today like its your last night, We want to cry but we know its alright, Cause I’m with you and your with me’.
Kind: He continued: ‘From the minute I met you, I knew this was gonna be a special chapter in my life. I was right’
It comes as fan footage, which has resurfaced following Tom’s death, has shown how the singer was supported by his bandmates when he was too weak to sing during his final performance with The Wanted.
As part of the Most Wanted: The Greatest Hits tour, Tom joined his bandmates on stage at Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena on March 17 – just two weeks before he died.
Fan videos taken on the night show the ailing star sitting on a throne during the songs Gold Forever and Glad You Came.
Tragic: Tom was diagnosed with stage 4 glioblastoma in October 2020, and given just 12 months to live by doctors
Siva took over Tom’s vocals on Gold Forever while Nathan Sykes remained by his side, before Max George and Jay McGuinness joined him for the second song.
The band wore sunglasses in solidarity with Tom, who chose to wear shades in public during his final appearances after his eye was forced shut due to his brain tumor.
Tom’s wife Kelsey was in the audience for the gig, proudly sharing footage at the time of herself dancing with the couple’s two young children while Tom was on stage.
‘Dream team’: Fan footage which has resurfaced following Tom’s death has shown how the singer was supported by his bandmates when he was too weak to sing during his final performance with The Wanted
While battling through chemotherapy and treatment Tom campaigned tirelessly to raise awareness of his cancer in the hopes of helping others.
In September 2021, 11 months on from his diagnosis, Tom sang at the Stand Up 2 Cancer show at the Royal Albert Hall and even embarked on a Greatest Hits tour with his bandmates when the tumour was confirmed as ‘stable’ in November.
But Tom’s condition deteriorated rapidly once the tour came to an end earlier this year.
Sad news: Tragic news of Tom’s death was confirmed by his wife Kelsey after he battled a brain tumour for two years
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