Lorraine Kelly has paid tribute to The Wanted star Tom Parker.
The singer, originally from Bolton, died on Wednesday surrounded by his family and bandmates, a statement released by the boyband said.
He disclosed in October 2020 that he had been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma and had begun radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Paying her respects to Parker on Thursday’s episode of her ITV programme, Lorraine said he was an ‘absolutely fantastic young man’.
‘He lived with his cancer with such grace and he was quite, quite extraordinary.’
Despite Parker’s diagnosis, in recent weeks he had performed on stage with his bandmates as part of their much-delayed reunion tour.
A statement on The Wanted’s Instagram page said: ‘Max, Jay, Siva, Nathan and the whole Wanted family are devastated by the tragic and premature loss of our bandmate Tom Parker, who passed away peacefully at lunchtime today surrounded by his family and his band mates.
‘Tom was an amazing husband to Kelsey, and father to Aurelia and Bodhi.
‘He was our brother, words can’t express the loss and sadness we feel. Always and forever in our hearts.’
His widow, Kelsey Parker, formerly Hardwick, said the hearts of his family were broken by his death.
She wrote: ‘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.
‘Thank you to everyone who has supported in his care throughout, he fought until the very end. I’m forever proud of you.’
Parker had been married to Hardwick since 2018 and they welcomed their son, Bodhi, in October last year.
Their daughter, Aurelia Rose, was born in 2019.
In January 2021, he announced in an Instagram post that there had been a ‘significant reduction’ in the size of the tumour and that he was ‘responding well to treatment’.
Lorraine airs weekdays at 9am on ITV.
