The Wanted’s Siva Kaneswaran said he was inspired to “face his fears” and sign up for Dancing On Ice after witnessing the “infectious” courage of his late bandmate Tom Parker after his brain tumour diagnosis.
The 34-year-old singer said he had been reminded that “life was worth living” after Parker’s death in March age 33 and agreed to appear on the 15th series of ITV’s ice-skating competition alongside a new batch of celebrities.
Parker, who announced in October 2020 he had been diagnosed with stage four glioblastoma, died at a hospice near the south-east London home he shared with his wife Kelsey and their two children.
Parker grew up in Tonge Moor and there are plans to install a memorial bench in his memory.
Kaneswaran joined fellow bandmates Nathan Sykes, Jay McGuiness, Max George as pallbearers at his funeral.
“I’ve decided this year to do a lot of things that I’d never do and face my fears,” he said. “Obviously, this year has been eye-opening for me with Tom and witnessing his courage, which was infectious to say the least.
“It reminded me that life was worth living and to take it all and to enjoy it.
“From that, I’ve been making decisions based on that, doing my driving test finally in Los Angeles, booking the flight I wanted to always go on, and signing up to a song-writing degree course.
READ MORE: Bolton-born Wanted star's widow speaks on grief
“In comparison, it’s just not as scary anymore, all my fears have shrunk.”
Kaneswaran, who is partnered with professional ice-skater Klabera Komini on ITV’s Dancing On Ice, says he would “love” for his bandmates to watch him skate as it is the “scariest thing” he has ever done.
He added: “It’s always nice to get someone there in your corner in case you fall.
“Jay has obviously won Strictly Come Dancing so I need that winning attitude.
“I’d love for all the boys to come down and support me at some point. Me and Jay have done Hunted and we won that, and Jay has won Strictly Come Dancing so we’re a team of winners – it’s expected of me to win.”
READ MORE: Tom Parker: Memorial bench to be installed in Bolton
Phillip Schofield, 60, said it was a “massive relief” that their show was set to return following the “tricky times” of the pandemic.
He said: “We seem to have left the worst threat of Covid behind us and we can begin to get back to some normality. It was tricky last year and hopefully a lot easier this year.
READ MORE: Heartfelt tributes at funeral of Bolton pop star Tom Parker from The Wanted
“I think it’s one of those things where you just want something back. It was so lovely to see I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! back in the jungle where it should be.
“We’ll be back hopefully with a full audience.”
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