Tom Parker has been posthumously shortlisted for a National Television Award (NTA) for his groundbreaking brain tumour documentary.
The award nomination for the 33-year-old Bolton-born singer – who was known for being one fifth of the popular British boyband, The Wanted, since 2009 – comes after he sadly passed away on 30 March following being diagnosed with an inoperable terminal brain tumour known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) back in October 2020.
Tom had been undergoing a number of treatments in an attempt to prolong his life following the devastating diagnosis, and chose to make a documentary, titled Tom Parker: Inside My Head, about his journey living with the illness – which aired on Channel 4 in October 2021.
The moving documentary followed Tom as he organised a star-studded concert, also called Inside My Head, at the Royal Albert Hall last September, all with the aim of raising worthy funds for charities Stand Up To Cancer and The National Brain Appeal.
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The hour-long programme also helped Tom’s mission to campaign for brain tumour awareness.
Tom Parker has been posthumously shortlisted for a National Television Award (NTA) for his groundbreaking brain tumour documentary / Credit: Channel 4
In the documentary, Tom spoke openly about how he believes a “massive improvement” is needed in treatment and research funding for brain tumours.
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According to leading charity Brain Tumour Research, GBM is the most common type of brain tumour and is also one of the most aggressive, but there is currently no cure, and it often resists treatment, with the average survival time from diagnosis being 12 to 18 months.
The amount of money spent annually in the UK on brain cancer research has increased from £4 million in 2009-10 to £15 million in 2019-20, but Brain Tumour Research says that figure must increase to £35 million to address the “chronic lack of funding”.
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‘Tom Parker: Inside My Head’ aired on Channel 4 in October 2021 / Credit: Channel 4
Tom Parker: Inside My Head has now been nominated for a National Television Award, and is in the running up against Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, who presented the documentary Caring For Derek about her family’s life after her husband – former political adviser Derek Draper – spent a year in hospital being treated for COVID-19.
Katie Price’s What Harvey Did Next, Julia Bradbury’s Breast Cancer And Me, and Paddy and Christine McGuinness’s Our Family And Autism are also in the running for the award.
The 2022 National Television Awards are to air on ITV on 15 September.
Featured Image – Channel 4
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First look images released of new BBC drama series from Happy Valley creator filmed in Yorkshire
Emily Sergeant
A new BBC series telling the story of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band is set to air later this year.
Riot Women, the brand-new drama from the multi-BAFTA award-winning writer Sally Wainwright – best known for being the creator of Happy Valley – is a six-part series set and filmed in Hebden Bridge, West Yorkshire.
First look pictures of the new show have now been released.
Starring Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, and Amelia Bullmore as band members, alongside a talented supporting cast consisting of Taj Atwal, Chandeep Uppal, and Macy-Jacob Seelochan as the band’s riotous backing singers, the newly-released pictures show the women in action.
First look images have been released of a new BBC drama series filmed in Yorkshire / Credit: BBC
According to a synopsis on the BBC website, Riot Women dives headfirst into the world of five women who come together to create a makeshift punk-rock band in order to enter a local talent contest.
But, in writing their first original song, they soon discover that they have a lot more to say than planned – and this is their way to say it.
As they juggle demanding jobs, grown-up children, complicated parents, husbands who’ve buggered off, and disastrous dates, and relationships, the band becomes a catalyst for change in their lives, and it’s going to make them question everything.
📸 Here's your first look at Riot Women – the new drama from Sally Wainwright coming to @BBCiPlayer and @BBCOne in 2025
New pictures feature Joanna Scanlan, Rosalie Craig, Tamsin Greig, Lorraine Ashbourne, Amelia Bullmore, and more
Creators and producers say the show is a testament to the power of friendship, music, and the resilience of women who “refuse to be silenced by age or expectation”.
Speaking ahead of the show airing later this year, Riot Women creator, Sally Wainwright, commented: “I’m having a whole new buzz of excitement about the show as we bring it together in the edit, and I can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
Riot Women will premiere on BBC One and iPlayer in the UK later this year.
Featured Image – BBC
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A Manchester barbershop is offering a ‘pay what you can’ service this month
Danny Jones
Amidst the tidal wave of January deals on food and drink in Manchester, a local barbers is championing their own ‘pay what you can’ offer to help people along this month.
Jefe’s Barbershop, located in the heart of Manchester’s Northern Quarter, is one of the best barbers in the city centre, offering a wide variety of cuts and facial hair grooming services – they even offer a subscription service that helps people save money on regular trims.
That being said, they are well aware of those January blues and the mounting obstacles and anxieties that come with weeks of penny-pinching to make it to month’s end, as well as the general toll it can take on people’s mental health.
So this January, Jefe and his team are doing something different – as he puts it, “something special”: the barbershop is allowing customers to simply pay what they feel comfortable handing over and, in the case of those struggling, whatever they can afford.
It’s a simple gesture with a big purpose which helps ensure no one has to miss out on a feel-good moment or the confidence that comes from a fresh trim.
“All we do is laugh and joke about life—that’s why people come here,” Jefe explains. “I don’t want anyone to lose the chance to be present, to feel good, and to laugh with us.
“Men often need more help than they’re willing to let on and we want to be a helping hand they can rely on.” Now that’s a cause all of us can and should get behind.
Community support has remained at the core of Jefe’s Barbershop since the beginning when he swapped a basketball career for providing a much-needed service to Mancunian men.
From partnering with Manc sandwich shops and offering free haircuts for the homeless, to hosting street parties with local events companies and providing £5 trims to promote men’s mental health in 2023 when the cost of living crisis really kicked in – Jefe’s is always trying to make a difference in the area.
You’ve got to love businesses that go the extra mile.
If you want to make the most of this wholesome deal or just feel like you’re in need of a trim, you can book HERE or call them directly on 0161 818 7659.
The ‘pay what you can’ offer runs Monday to Thursday, 9am-7pm, subject to availability. You’ll find Jefe’s Barbershop on Stevenson Square
Because as the man himself puts it, “Everyone deserves to feel their best”.
Emily Sergeant -
24th August 2022 
