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The widow of tragic pop star Tom Parker has sought comfort from a new man as she must accept life without Tom, MailOnline has learned.
Mum-of-two Kelsey Parker, 32, has been mourning her husband, The Wanted star Tom, since she lost him to cancer eight months ago and recently admitted life on her own was ‘tough’.
But friends are happy that actress Kelsey is looking forward to it and is in the early stages of a relationship with electrician Sean Boggans, 39, after meeting him recently.
EXCLUSIVE: Kelsey Parker is in the early stages of a relationship with an electrician she met in Greece — nine months after losing her beloved husband Tom, (pictured) to brain cancer at age 33
“It’s very early days and no one knows what the future holds, but for now Kelsey is happy that someone else has come into her life,” a source said.
Kelsey and Sean, a father of two, are said to have met when she took a break with friends in Lindos, Rhodes, in September.
More recently, Kelsey attended the wedding of a member of Sean’s family in Kent and the pair were clearly affectionate with each other.
Sean recently divorced his children’s mother, but there was no crossover with Kelsey.
MailOnline understands that he has a positive relationship with his former partner and regular access to their children.
New connection: Kelsey and Sean, a father of two, are said to have met when she took a break with friends in Lindos, Rhodes, in September
In a recent interview on TV’s Loose Women, Kelsey spoke touchingly about the void left in her life by the loss of Tom, when her daughter Aurelia Rose, three, and son Bodhi, two, were asleep.
“The evenings are so heavy,” she said. “Because the kids go to bed and then I’m alone and that’s the time you talk, gossip and talk to your partner and I don’t have that anymore.”
Kelsey regularly posts about Tom on social media, and makes a conscious effort to keep his memory alive in the minds of her young children, with a special Father’s Day post on Instagram in June, though she admitted, “Father’s Day will be tough. ‘
Earlier this month, she took part in a grueling five-day trek across the Sahara desert to raise money for a breast cancer charity.
The group took on the extreme challenge on November 12, trekking through Morocco’s unforgiving landscape for more than 10 hours each day in an attempt to reach 100km.
Kelsey was joined by Vicky Pattison, Giovanna Fletcher and Pete Wicks as they set out to trek 100km across the Sahara for five days in support of CoppaFeel!.
Talk about the grueling CoppaTrek! adventure, Kelsey candidly said she needed to “focus her mind” after a challenging year.
“I’ve never done anything like it before, but it’s just the challenge I need to focus my mind after a really tough year,” she said in a statement.
A source said: ‘It’s very early days and no one knows what the future holds, but for now Kelsey is happy someone else has come into her life’ – Sean pictured with his ex
“The thought of being part of a team full of inspiring people who have also gone through extremely difficult times and taking on this challenge together feeds my training regimen.”
Tom passed away at the age of 33 from stage four glioblastoma brain cancer.
He was diagnosed with the disease in October 2020, was given only 12 months by doctors to live and died on March 30, 2022.
Next month, Kelsey will present an ITV documentary exploring her grief and following her life since Tom’s death.
Kelsey will provide insight into her journey of grief as she raises their children in the documentary.
Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom will see her cameras allow her to follow her very personal journey of grief as she hopes to connect with people in similar situations, including other famous faces.
From household names opening up about their own personal experiences of grief, to other young widows and grief experts, Kelsey’s journey will see her and her family reach significant milestones without Tom.
Throughout the six-part ITVBe series, Kelsey tries death cafes, grief yoga and other methods of coping with loss, exploring her grief process as she tries to rebuild her life without her husband.
Family: Now Kelsey, 30, will provide insight into her journey with grief in a documentary as she raises their children Aurelia, three, and Bodhi, two, since her husband’s death from brain cancer in March
Kelsey took to her Instagram last month to share the news of her new documentary, admitting it was “really hard” at times.
She revealed that she is currently filming, describing it as a “roller coaster ride,” but shared her hope that the series can help other people.
She posted: ‘I’m delighted to share with you that Kelsey Parker: Life After Tom will hit your screens on ITV later this year.
‘A six-part observational documentary that follows me and my family over the past six months since Tom’s death. It’s obviously a very difficult movie to make, but I’m incredibly proud of it.
More recently, Kelsey attended the wedding of a member of Sean’s family in Kent and the pair were clearly affectionate with each other.
“We are still filming and it has been a roller coaster ride but I can’t thank the team enough for believing in me to share my story, to continue Tom’s work and strengthen his legacy and hopefully help others .
“I have met and have met the most incredible people who have loved, lost and are fighting to keep their loved ones here.
“I’m learning about myself, pushing myself and sharing it all with my wonderful family and friends who are with me every step of the way. They’re all in there and I can’t wait for you to meet them!
‘The cameras follow the tough times but we’ve been blessed with a great summer and the team were there to get it all so join us on camping trips, Cornwall, weddings, christenings and so much more love and laughter along the way.’
Kelsey said she hopes her family’s “optimism shines through” in the documentary, saying she wants to “keep moving forward” despite her devastating loss.
She dedicated the series to her late husband Tom, saying she hoped it would make him “shine” in the long feature.
Kelsey continued, “Tom called us the Positive Parkers and I really hope our optimism shines through because life is for living and we’re here doing it and I just want to keep moving forward…
“Thank you so much for all your support, it really means everything to us. Every word of encouragement, every NTA vote, every person telling us we got this… you push us forward.
“I don’t know where I would be today without all of you and everyone who believed in me. Working with @aheadofthegame_foundation, filming with @flickerproductions @itv and my incredible management team @screativeagency, it gives me a purpose, a future, a reason for being and I am so grateful.
Oh and look out for the superstars of the show @aureliaroseparker and @bodhithomasparker who will bring all the joy! They make me so proud and I know @Tomparkerofficial will shine as they entertain you all.
“Tom, this is for you and I hope it makes you shine up there.”
The documentary will take a fearless look at bereavement and will confront death with compassion, empathy, emotional candor and some humor, according to one description.
The series is produced by the same team that brought viewers Caring For Derek, which provided insight into Derek Draper’s recovery from long Covid, which left him bedridden and cared for by his wife Kate Garraway.
Oh no: She admitted the then-two-year-old “doesn’t quite get that he’s not coming back,” even after being “really blunt” and telling her “he’s dead”