Jay McGuiness ‘breaks down in tears and flees filming’ on new BBC show after struggling to discuss the loss of his bandmate and pal Tom Parker

Jay McGuiness reportedly broke down in tears and had to stop filming during the new BBC series Pilgrimage, after becoming emotional over the loss of his bandmate Tom Parker, who died in 2022 at the age of 33 following a battle with brain cancer.

In the second episode of the series, Jay, 34, joins six other celebrities on a spiritual trek across the Alps. 

According to The Mirror, an emotional moment unfolds as Jay opens up to comedian Helen Lederer, 70, before becoming teary-eyed and excusing himself from filming so he can ‘cry in the toilet’. 

Speaking ahead of the show’s airing, Jay admitted he anticipated emotional moments saying: ‘I had a lot of anticipatory nerves before the show, I knew I’d talk about Tom Parker at some point during filming. I cried more than I’ve ever cried.’ 

Tom, a fellow member of The Wanted, shared his diagnosis of terminal brain cancer with fans in October 2020, revealing he had an inoperable tumour. 

At the time, he posted a heartfelt message alongside a photo of himself with his wife Kelsey and daughter Aurelia Rose: ‘Hey guys, you know that we’ve both been quiet on social media for a few weeks and it’s time to tell you why.

Jay McGuiness reportedly broke down in tears and had to stop filming during BBC’s Pilgrimage, after becoming emotional over the loss of bandmate Tom Parker (pictured Stef Reid, Daliso Chaponda, Harry Clark, Helen Lederer, Jeff Brazier, Nelufar Hedayat, and Jay)

Jay’s bandmate Tom died in 2022 at the age of 33 following a two-year battle with brain cancer (pictured in 2021)

‘There’s no easy way to say this but I’ve sadly been diagnosed with a brain tumour and I’m already undergoing treatment.

‘We decided, after a lot of thought, that rather than hiding away and trying to keep it a secret, we would do one interview where we could lay out all the details and let everyone know the facts in our own way.

‘We are all absolutely devastated but we are gonna fight this all the way. We don’t want your sadness, we just want love and positivity and together we will raise awareness of this terrible disease and look for all available treatment options.

‘It’s gonna be a tough battle but with everyone’s love and support we are going to beat this. Tom and Kelsey xxx.’

Jay also revealed that after Tom’s passing, he would still speak to him, wondering whether he could somehow hear 

He admitted: ‘I have yes… it’s a conversation which always be coloured by the question of like “can you even hear this?” 

Reflecting on Tom’s diagnosis, Jay said: ‘With Tom, they knew it was serious quite quickly and there wasn’t really lots they could do, and I think it felt really senseless.’

The star added that while his pal was sick he had moments where he would pray and then when he passed away he felt like ‘I wonder if he can hear me now’. 

In the second episode, Jay, 34, joins six other celebrities on a spiritual trek across the Alps but an emotional moment unfolds as he becomes teary-eyed and excuses himself from filming

Speaking ahead of the show’s airing, Jay admitted he anticipated emotional moments: ‘I knew I’d talk about Tom Parker at some point during filming. I cried more than I’ve ever cried’ (L-R Siva Kaneswaran, Tom, Max George, Jay, Nathan Sykes in 2013)

Jay noted that he felt it ‘ignited a lot of unanswered questions’ and in some ways he is ‘open to the idea that there’s something out there’. 

Jay, who was raised in a Irish Catholic family in Nottinghamshire, said the show felt like the ‘perfect thing to do’ as he explored his relationship with faith. 

But as time’s gone on, he believes that the rule book that comes with being a Catholic, is too judgmental for where he is in life. 

In the three-part BBC Two series, Jay is joined by presenter Jeff Brazier, comedian Helen, The Traitors winner Harry Clark, comedian Daliso Chaponda, Paralympic athlete Stefanie Reid and journalist Nelufar Hedayat. 

Together, they walk nearly 186 miles over 12 days, from Austria to the sacred abbey of Einsiedeln in Switzerland. 

Pilgrimage: The Road Through The Alps airs April 20 at 9pm on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer.