Dancing On Ice viewers have been left in tears after a touching tribute was paid to Tom Parker on last night’s show.
As fans of the popular ITVreality show will know, Siva Kaneswaran – who has been a member of boyband The Wanted since 2009 – is currently a contestant in this year’s competition, and for last night’s show, he laced up his skates and took to the ice with the important task of paying tribute to his late bandmate and best mate, Tom Parker.
The Bolton-born singer was diagnosed with an inoperable terminal brain tumour known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) back in October 2020, and underwent a number of treatments in an attempt to prolong his life, before he passed away peacefully with his family, loved ones, and bandmates by his side.
With it nearing the first anniversary since Tom’s devastating passing, Siva and his professional skating partner Klabera performed an emotional routine in his memory.
The couple chose The Wanted’s hugely-popular 2012 single ‘Gold Forever’ to perform their touching tribute to – which is a song that’s taken on a new life since Tom’s passing, and is one fans often associate with the late star after it was played at his funeral.
The band also famously re-released the song in Tom’s memory in April last year, with all proceeds going to The Brain Tumour Charity.
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“I can’t even try to find the words about how I feel about him not being around,” Siva explained in the VT ahead of the skate, “Tom sings the first line of the song so obviously it’s going to be very hard hearing his voice.”
“I learnt from being around Tom to use the difficulty and make something positive,” he added.
The skate was praised by judges Jayne Torvill, Christopher Dean, Ashley Banjo, and Oti Mabuse, with the couple earning a top score of 36 for their performance.
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Tom’s widow Kelsey cheered Siva and Klabera on from the audience.
Dancing On Ice viewers left in tears at tribute to late The Wanted star Tom Parker / Credit: Matt Frost (via ITV)
After the emotional performance, viewers were left in tears and took to social media in their thousands to share their thoughts – with fellow supportive The Wanted member Jay McGuinness writing on Twitter: “The tears are flowing and we are all so proud of our boy. What a special moment, in tribute of the most special guy.”
Another fan wrote on Twitter: “Absolutely stunning, a beautiful tribute to Tom.”
“I am a wreck from this performance,” a third added, while a fourth fan said: “That performance was SO emotional. I commend them for holding it together and I too believe someone was looking down. When Tom’s face came up on screen at the end, I could feel your pain.”
“That was absolutely beautiful to watch. And very emotional. I think Tom would be very proud of that wonderful performance,” another fan wrote.
Siva and Klabera sadly did not make it through to the Dancing On Ice final next week.
Featured Image – Matt Frost (via ITV)
TV & Showbiz
Benson Boone has announced a headline gig in Manchester – and it’s a big one
Danny Jones
American pop sensation and unrivalled king of unnecessary front flips, Benson Boone, has just announced his first-ever headline Manchester arena gig as part of a new arena tour.
The solo artist and acrobatic chart-topper has seen a meteoric rise in the US and, as is usually the case across the Atlantic, he’s become increasingly popular over here too.
Benson may have performed here in Manchester before as part of the 2024 MTV EMAs and for a small show at The Deaf Institute, but now big fans have the added Boone of getting to watch a standalone show at one of Europe’s leading indoor entertainment venues.
Announced on Friday, 30 May, the 22-year-old will be making his way across the pond from Washington for a limited run of UK concerts, with a date at Co-op Live arena being one of just five dates.
Extending his ‘American Heart Tour’ ahead of the release of his eponymous sophomore record, with this autumn leg, Co-op Live will mark his individual visit to 0161.
The Grammy-nominated artist has earned several nods of recognition already for his first album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, which was released just last spring.
He has been described as among the current trend of male singers who fit into the American Idol and ‘Voice audition pop’ genre (a term recently coined online), along with the likes of Teddy Swims, Shawn Mendes, Alex Warren and others.
Regardless of the slightly tongue-in-cheek term, he’s become a huge hit around the world and landing him is still a big coup for the venue that has already welcomed similarly massive pop contemporaries like Swims, Sabrina Carpenter, Olivia Rodrigo and more.
In case you’re wondering just how big a deal he is over in the States, even this early in his career, his domestic headline dates sold out in seconds, quite literally…
The last time he visited Co-op Live was to perform at the most recent MTV EMAs
Benson Boone is coming to Manchester on Monday, 27 October and will be playing just two other British venues: The O2 in London (two nights) and the Utilita Arena in Birmingham.
Safe to say you don’t want to miss this one if you like soaring vocals and lots of flipping.
General admission tickets go live at 10am on Thursday, 5 June, but Co-op Members can gain access via the arena’s official pre-sale window from the same time on Tuesday (3 Jun).
More adult virgins needed for next series of Channel 4’s hit reality show Virgin Island
Emily Sergeant
Channel 4 is back looking for more adult virgins to take part in the potential next series of its hit reality show Virgin Island.
You may remember that early last year, we brought you the breaking highly-important news that Channel 4 was currently in the process of producing a new reality TV series that, at the time, had the working title of ‘The Intimacy Retreat’ and was looking for a group of adult virgins to apply to take part, if they were brave enough.
But now, well over a year on, we all know that show turned out to be the hit show Virgin Island – which has just finished airing its first series this week.
Channel 4 needs more adult virgins for the potential next series of its hit reality TV show Virgin Island / Credit: Channel 4
If you’re unfamiliar with Virgin Island, it’s unlike anything ever seen on TV before, as it follows the journey of a group of adult virgins who are whisked off to a Mediterranean island retreat to learn life-changing skills in the art of intimacy.
Working with leading international therapists, the aim is to help the young people overcome their fears and insecurities when it comes to intimacy and sex.
Channel 4 said it chose to commission the show after a recent study into intimacy found out that one in eight British 26-year-olds is, apparently, still a virgin.
Virgin Island aims to help young people overcome their insecurities around intimacy and sex / Credit: Channel 4
A casting call for the new series on the Channel 4 website reads: “Are you a virgin and do you need help and guidance with your fears and insecurities around intimacy and sex? Double Act Productions is casting adults for a potential second series of Virgin Island.”
You just need to be over 21 years of age to take part in the show.
Fancy it then? Or know someone who may be up for the ride? Applications for the potential next series of Virgin Island are now open, and there’s still plenty of time left to put your name down.
Emily Sergeant -
6th March 2023 
