Singer Jay McGuiness was visibly emotional on the BBC show Pilgrimage, where he opened up about his feelings towards his late bandmate Tom Parker from The Wanted. During a heart-to-heart with comedian Helen Lederer, Jay, 34, shed tears, expressing that it was one of the most emotional moments he had ever experienced.
Taking a moment to compose himself during filming, Jay confided in Helen, stating, “I need to have a little cry in the toilet.” Tom passed away in March 2022 at the age of 33 after bravely battling an inoperable brain tumor since 2020.
Reflecting on his connection with Tom, Jay shared, “I have, yes? it’s a conversation which [will] always be colored by the question of, like, ‘Can you even hear this?’ While he was sick, I definitely had moments that I would say I prayed, and then when he passed away I sort of felt like, ‘I wonder if he can hear me now’.”
Discussing his spiritual beliefs, Jay, who was raised in an Irish Catholic family, described himself as agnostic, expressing a curiosity to explore more about his beliefs. The pilgrimage on the show, where participants journey from Austria to Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland, provided Jay with an opportunity to delve into questions about faith.
Alongside presenter Jeff Brazier and other celebrities, Jay embarked on the challenging trek, including navigating a snow-capped mountain. The shared experience of the pilgrimage allowed the participants to bond and engage in deep conversations about life, spirituality, and personal experiences.
The emotional journey of Jay and the other celebrities can be witnessed on Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps, airing over three nights from April 20-22 on BBC Two & iPlayer.