Kelsey Parker says she is as committed as ever to continuing late husband Tom Parker’s legacy and being pregnant with a new partner doesn’t change anything in that regard.
The Mum’s the Word podcast host, 34, was married to The Wanted musican for four years and shared two children - daughter Aurelia and son Bodhi, with him. She was left devastated when he died aged 33 in 2022 after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
Parker went public with her relationship with tree surgeon Will Lindsay, 27, in September 2024 and revealed in January she was pregnant with their first child together.
Speaking to The Standard, she said: “Me being with Will and having a child with Will would never take away the love that we have for Tom and the love that even Will has for Tom, because Will ultimately loves Tom’s kids.
“It’s about us as a family and Will’s a massive part of their life now.”
On May 10, she is preparing to host the third annual Tom Parker Celebrity Football match in his memory at Bromley F.C.’s recently renovated Hayes Lane Stadium in Kent.
With food stalls, raffles, live performances, and tickets starting at just £5 for children, the match promises a fantastic family day out that’s about so much more than just football.
Those taking to the pitch this year include actors Ryan and Scott Thomas, ex TOWIE star Dan Osborne, former Love Islanders Finley Tapp and Ronnie Vint, Coronation Street’s Alex Bain, Jaden Ladega from EastEnders, plus, a host of TikTok sensations, influencers, and surprise guests to be revealed on the day.
“For my kids, [these annual charity football matches are] a day to remember their dad,” explained Parker. “When you get diagnosed like Tom did, it rocked our whole world and our family to know how underfunded brain tumours are and just raising that awareness that we’re gonna do on Saturday will go such a long way.
“Even talking about it now, people have no clue that brain tumours are the biggest killer for under 40s and children and we only get one per cent of national funding. That’s it. That’s all that goes towards brain tumours so more needs to be done and I feel like Tom’s left me the legacy to continue for him because he did so much in his 18 months of getting sick that now it’s my time to go you know what? I’ll continue shining a light on it for him.
“It’s a [big responsibility] but I’m doing it all for him because what we went through as a family you just wouldn’t wish that on your worst enemy. So it’s all about just helping other people now.”
She will continue the campaigning for awareness after the new arrival to her family.
Both of her and Tom’s children are set to be involved on the day, with Bodhi enjoying a kickaround with his football club before the main match and Aurelia singing and dancing during the half-time with students from Parker’s K2K Stars Performing Arts Academy.
“They’re excited about the new addition to the family, we don’t know whether we’re having a boy or a girl. Bodhi wants to call the baby ‘Pawee’ - not even ‘Paulie’, he likes ‘Pawee’ - I don’t know, he’s made this name up. Aurelia likes ‘Violet’ from The Incredibles. She does actually like ‘Parker’ but she’s caused lots of controversy because we couldn’t call the baby ‘Parker Parker Parker’, you know it’s… She likes like the real traditional names which is funny.”
Tom Parker Celebrity Football takes place on May 10 at Bromley FC’s Hayes Lane Stadium in Kent. Tickets are available to buy here, kick off is at 3pm.
