The Wanted’s Tom Parker breaks down in tears on stage amid terminal brain tumour battle at his charity concert
IT’S not often that celebs cut through the noise of showbiz and deliver a stellar night of music with a hard-hitting punch.
But that is what Tom Parker did when he reunited The Wanted and called on his famous pals to put on his charity gig Inside My Head for the Stand Up To Cancer appeal.
Ed Sheeran, Liam Payne, KSI and Sigrid were among those who performed at the Albert Hall to help raise money for cancer charities.
In an exclusive chat backstage, Tom, who was diagnosed with a terminal brain tumour last year, said: “Twelve months ago I couldn’t even get out of bed. It’s been a crazy journey.
“This disease affects people of all ages, kids to adults. The support has been amazing.”
Praising his wife Kelsey Hardwick and bandmates Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Nathan Sykes and Jay McGuiness, Tom added: “It’s been a tough year.
“I want to say thanks to you boys, I love them a lot, and my wife Kelsey — I love her so much. She has been an absolute rock.”
Monday’s gig was the first time The Wanted had performed together in seven years. And Tom said it took a while for them to get back into their old rhythm.
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He joked: “Four or five times in rehearsals I’ve been like, ‘What’s that lyric again?’ When that happens I can give the mic to the crowd.”
Jay added: “We know how special tonight is and how much effort Tom and others have put in.
"As well as celebrating everything we have done, hope-fully we are making people look forward to what is to come.”
The lads put on a roaring show and all shed a tear at the end.
With fans on their feet, Jay said: “Tom, thank you for always being a beacon of light for us and for everyone here.
"You’ve shown us how you can stand up to cancer.”
NEW PALS ACT FOR LIAM
DURING their pop heyday The Wanted and One Direction were locked in a bitter feud as the bands battled for chart domination.
But as time has passed Liam Payne admitted that the lads have now put their differences firmly behind them.
And when Tom asked him to get involved in the charity gig, he jumped at the chance.
In an exclusive chat ahead of his set, Liam said: “Although we have had our differences in the past it has been quite nostalgic.
“When I heard the news about Tom all of that just fell away and now it is like seeing old friends, even though at one point we really didn’t like each other.
“Now we love each other.”
Liam says Tom’s diagnosis hit him hard, especially because there are only five years between them.
He added: “It is horrible to hear stories so close to home. This one really touched me in particular. It’s so horrible.
“I just can’t imagine how I would feel to be in that situation at the age he is, but it is so amazing that he is doing so much to help others.
“It’s mind-blowing. We go on stage and are happy, but it definitely hit me quite hard.”
Liam also revealed: “I’ve had a few different family members suffer.
“My Nan passed with cancer, which is horrible. But it is always nice to do a little bit for the cause.”
DUA'S SHEER CLASS
AFTER working her socks off over the past few weeks it’s about time DUA LIPA had a good old knees-up.
The Levitating singer – who showed off her figure in this sheer and lace bodysuit – let her hair down after performing at the iHeart Radio Music Festival in Las Vegas.
She flew to New York to celebrate the first birthday of Gigi Hadid and Zayn Malik daughter Khai.
Dua, who is dating Gigi’s brother Anwar, was spotted in the Big Apple with the family, including Gigi’s supermodel sister Bella.
Gigi and Zayn celebrated their tot’s milestone with a small bash for family and close friends.
Zayn released three songs last week as part of a project called Yellow Tape.
But after having a listen, I think he could do with some advice from Dua if he ever wants to get back in the charts.
A COUPLE OF AIR HEADS
IF you see Ellie Goulding or Frankie Bridge at an airport before jetting off on your holiday, it might be worth checking to see if they need a hand.
The pair have revealed they are useless when it comes to airport travel after years of having other people organise everything for them.
On flying with just a pal for the first time, Ellie explained: “We led each other into like a cleaning closet in the airport.
“We didn’t find the check-in, didn’t find departures and just ended up in like some kind of closet. I was like, ‘This is ridiculous’.”
Frankie – interviewing Ellie on her Open Mind podcast – said she and her husband, former footballer Wayne, were just as bad.
She added: “We went to the airport and I realised I didn’t actually know where I was going or what I was doing.
“I was following him, he was following me, and I was like, ‘This is horrendous, we’re grown humans and we’re both so used to just following someone else’.
“It’s so bad.”
MELLY C'S TELLY SPICE TWIRL
IT was a case of Who Do You Think You Cha-Cha- Cha when Mel C took to the floor during the first episode of Dancing With The Stars, the US version of TV hit Strictly Come Dancing.
The Spice Girls singer smashed her first dance, performing a Cha-Cha to their hit Wannabe with dance pro Gleb Savchenko.
Mel, who wowed in this orange and blue sequined outfit, scored 27 out of 40.
Before her performance she said: “I don’t want to become a meme.”
Given how good she is, it’s more likely she’ll be the winner.
Former Strictly judge Len Goodman, who now heads up the show, told Mel she was “absolutely terrific”.
Judge Bruno Tonioli, who will miss this year’s series of the BBC show because he is on Dancing With The Stars, added: “You know what you are doing.”
IDRIS ELBA
IDRIS ELBA has teamed up with Australian chart toppers LIME CORDIALE for a mini album.
The Luther actor worked with the group when he was shooting the latest Thor film Down Under.
Idris’s first track with the group, Apple Crumble, is out today and their record, Cordi Elba, is due out January 14 next year.
SISTER SLEDGE REUNION HOPES SLASHED
Sister Sledge star Kathy has ruled out a reunion and says unlike ABBA, the group just couldn’t make it work.
In an exclusive chat ahead of her set at Playground Festival in Glasgow, she said: “I was kicked out of the group.
“I was asked to do a solo project and I was given an ultimatum by my sisters. My sister Kim actually came to my home right before the pandemic and apologised.
“I love my family dearly, but what’s important to me is being sisters. It was a great chapter, but growth is healthy.”
Formed in 1971, the American group – sisters Kathy, Kim Debbie and Joni – had hits with He’s The Greatest Dancer, We Are Family, Lost In Music and Frankie.
Kathy went solo in 1989 while her three sisters continued as Sister Sledge.
After Joni died in 2017, Debbie and Kim vowed to carry on performing as a duo.
Referring to the turbulent relationship of other Seventies icons, Kathy added that rejoining Sister Sledge “would be like Ike and Tina Turner reuniting”.
HARRY IVOR'S FIRST
HARRY STYLES triumphed at the Ivor Novello Awards – picking up his first gong at the bash.
The Ivors 2021 with Apple Music took place at London’s Grosvenor House yesterday, with Harry’s Adore You co-writer Amy Allen picking up the award on his behalf.
Lewis Capaldi and Emeli Sande were left disappointed after failing to land a win but it was smiles all round for Dave – who won for the third time in four years for his song Children Of The Internet.
Celeste also won big, picking up Songwriter of the Year with Jamie Hartman.
Late Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts and Girls Aloud singer Sarah Harding were both honoured during an emotional memorandum section of the ceremony.
On the red carpet ahead of the bash, Adele's collaborator Fraser T. Smith, who picked up Best Contemporary Song hinted she could be preparing to showcase a new sound on her upcoming album.
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The producer, who wrote her hit Set Fire To The Rain, said: “The thing is with Adele that she could go anywhere, she really is that talented.
“Nothing would surprise me.”