It will be beautiful celebrating Tom’s life...but so tough
Wanted star’s wife on pal’s Dancing on Ice TV tribute
KELSEY Parker has told of her pride that pop star husband Tom is being honoured on Dancing on Ice tonight, a year on from his tragic death.
Irish The Wanted star Siva Kaneswaran will perform to the band’s hit Gold Forever in tribute to Tom – just 33 when he succumbed to an incurable brain tumour.
Kelsey, 32, will be in the audience with daughter Aurelia, three, and son Bodhi, two. She said the pair can’t wait to see Daddy celebrated on TV – but admits it will be bittersweet for her.
Dubliber Siva’s emotional tribute is weeks before the family will mark one year without Tom.
Kelsey also opened up for the first time about how electrician Sean Boggans – who she was linked to last November – has supported her through the “desperate” loneliness she suffered after losing the love of her life.
In an exclusive interview, Kelsey said: “I’ve told the kids we are going to watch Uncle Siva, that he’s dancing to Daddy’s song, and there are going to be pictures of Daddy around – and they are so excited.
“It is going to be really tough for me, because the song makes me so emotional. But then it’s bittersweet, because I’m going to be so proud of Siva, and I want to celebrate Tom. It’s nearly a year since we lost him and he would still want to be in everyone’s thoughts. So why wouldn’t we celebrate him? But it doesn’t make it any less hard.
“It is incredible, but it is going to break me.”
Tom died on March 30 after being diagnosed with a grade four glioblastoma.
His death, just weeks after he joined The Wanted at a Birmingham gig, left Kelsey reeling and struggling to be both a mum and a dad to the couple’s two young children.
The actress and TV star says she has found an inner strength and bravery she didn’t know she had – but still needs a network of support.
Asked about Sean, 39, she refused to pin a label on their relationship, insisting she doesn’t know herself how to describe it.
But she admitted he has been a real support since they met in September.
She said carefully: “I did meet someone who has really been there for me when I was desperately struggling being on my own. I won’t label it, because I can’t.
“I’ve learned that I’m a really strong person. I didn’t choose this, and yet I’ve got through it as best as
I could. I’ve got an amazing support system. I need people around me. I’ll be with my mum, my auntie.
“I’ve got through this because of so many amazing people. The thing is, if the roles were
reversed, and this had happened to Tom, he would have maybe flourished. But people aren’t the same. He was quite happy to be by himself, I was always the one saying, ‘Tom, what are we doing today? I need to see people, I need to be out’. “He would just be indoors on his own, but I hate it.” Bolton-born Tom was diagnosed in October 2020 and went on to shine a powerful light on the plight of those suffering with brain tumours.
And Kelsey, who has raised thousands in Tom’s memory, is determined to carry on that fight. She said: “It is shocking how little funding goes into researching brain tumours. It really infuriates me.
“If more funding was channelled into that research, Tom would be here. That is why it is so important that we are still talking about him, and that Siva will celebrate him.
“I know that whatever he does will be beautiful. It will be tough, but I am going to take deep breaths and try to enjoy it.”