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The Wanted star Tom Parker makes emotional return on tour amid cancer battle

Nola Ojomu
·2-min read
The Wanted band members Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes, Tom Parker, Max George and Jay McGuiness (Getty Images)
The Wanted band members Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes, Tom Parker, Max George and Jay McGuiness (Getty Images)

The Wanted singer Tom Parker delighted fans after he made a surprise appearance at a show in Bournemouth after he had been forced to pull out of tour dates to undergo cancer treatment.

The hitmaker — who shared in 2020 that he had been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour — had been having treatment in Spain and was unable to make it back in time for the start of the tour which kicked off on 3 March.

However, Monday, 7 March saw the 33-year-old reunite with his bandmates Max George, Nathan Sykes, Siva Kaneswaran, and Jay McGuinness in an emotional moment on stage.

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A post shared by Tom Parker (@tomparkerofficial)

As the show was coming to a close with their hit 'Glad You Came', Parker appeared on stage while seated in a throne as Sykes told the crowd: "Give it up for Tom Parker!"

"As you guys can probably tell there is a massive space in this band tonight. And we love Tom as much as you do," Sykes continued as fans chanted Parker's name.

He concluded: "In fact, we’ll be big-headed and say that we love him slightly more, which is a lot. We can’t wait to have him back which will be very soon. He sees all your messages and everything."

Read more: Tom Parker tells government committee brain cancer treatment needs more funding

A picture of the reunion was also shared The Wanted's official Twitter page with the caption: "Like the king that he is! The f**king legend that is @TomParker [heart emojis] Bournemouth, that was so special!!!!"

Parker was diagnosed with “inoperable” stage-four glioblastoma in 2020, while his wife Kelsey was pregnant with their second child.

In October last year, he told The Sun he was determined to defy the odds.

The Wanted performing together on stage (Getty Images)
The Wanted performing together on stage (Getty Images)

"They give you 12 to 18 months of survival," he said. "But that’s the general statistics. Everyone we’ve spoken to has been way, way beyond that.

"Now, we’re aiming to be cancer-free by March. That’s the aim. This disease is always there. You might have residual cells but just not active."

Watch: Tom Parker announces brain tumour is 'under control'