The Wanted's Max George says he still texts the late Tom Parker

  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

Watch: The Wanted's Max George opens up about Tom Parker

The Wanted's Max George says he still texts former bandmate Tom Parker following his death in March.

Parker died of brain cancer on 30 March, aged 33 after being diagnosed with the disease in October 2020.

George appeared on This Morning to discuss Parker's new book, and his experience with grief.

Read more: The Wanted star Tom Parker dies aged 33 after brain tumour battle

Asked by Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary about dealing with Parker's tragic death, George said: "I’m still trying to process it, I still text him actually.

"If I get pictures or stuff that fans have made with him in it or they send a nice message to do with Tom, I’ll WhatsApp it to him."

Max George on 'This Morning'. (ITV)
Max George on 'This Morning'. (ITV)

He added: "I just find a bit of comfort in that. The worst bit is when I’m not doing it and I do it accidentally. Sometimes I go to do it and I’m like, 'Oh no.'"

George also talked about Parker's recently released memoir Hope which he wrote before his death: "It is a book about hope, it’s a book about triumph."

Max George (left) and Jay McGuiness of The Wanted (centre) carry the coffin at the funeral of their bandmate Tom Parker at St Francis of Assisi church in Queensway, Petts Wood, in south-east London, following his death at the age of 33 last month, 17 months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour. Picture date: Wednesday April 20, 2022. (Photo by Kirsty O'Connor/PA Images via Getty Images)
Max George and Jay McGuiness of The Wanted carry the coffin at the funeral of their bandmate Tom Parker. (PA Images via Getty Images)

He also opened up about seeing Parker pen his book while undergoing treatment for his cancer: "There were days where the days were quite long, especially when he was going through the chemo phase… I think [writing the book] was probably quite therapeutic on those days."

The Wanted formed in 2009 and were made up of George, Parker, Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuiness and Siva Kaneswaran.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 20: Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes members of The Wanted attend the
Max George, Siva Kaneswaran, Jay McGuiness, Tom Parker and Nathan Sykes. (WireImage)

After selling 12 million records they broke up in 2014 but got back together in 2021 for a greatest hits album and tour in support of Parker's cancer charities.

Parker's bandmates acted as pallbearers at his funeral with George also delivering a eulogy.

After the funeral, George paid tribute to Parker online. He wrote: "Good night beautiful boy. I will always think of you. Thanks for making my life so much better than I could ever have hoped for. Carrying you was an honour. You have carried me so many times over the last 12 years. I love you Tom. See you up there brother."

Watch: Ed Sheeran helped to pay Tom Parker's medical bills