Jay McGuiness Breaks Down in Tears on BBC’s Pilgrimage
The Wanted singer Jay McGuiness was visibly moved to tears on the BBC show Pilgrimage as he remembered his late bandmate Tom Parker. According to a report from Wales Online, Jay, aged 34, couldn’t hold back his emotions and later admitted: "I cried more than I’ve ever cried."
During an emotional exchange with comedian Helen Lederer, Jay confided in her, saying: "I need to have a little cry in the toilet." This moment was part of the filming for the new series of Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps, which aired on BBC Two.
Tom Parker died at the age of 33 in March 2022 after sharing with fans two years prior that he was battling an inoperable brain tumour. Jay reflected on whether he felt Tom could hear him, saying: "I have, yes? it’s a conversation which [will] always be coloured by the question of, like, ‘Can you even hear this?’"
While he was sick, Jay definitely had moments that he would say he prayed, and then when Tom passed away, he sort of felt like, "I wonder if he can hear me now." Jay shared post-filming: "I felt that did really sort of ignite a lot of questions that I’ve left unanswered, and in some ways, I know I’m searching for that catharsis. I’m really open to the idea there’s something out there."
He also contemplated the possibility of an afterlife connection with Tom, adding: "If we do all go into some global consciousness… God or whatever, then Tom would be there, and I’d be able to speak to him, but whether he can speak back is another question." This poignant moment was captured on camera during the filming of the show, which was halted temporarily to allow Jay to compose himself.
The show, which is a three-part series, follows Jay and other celebrities as they undertake an epic trek nearly 186 miles from Austria to the Einsiedeln Abbey in Switzerland across a punishing 12-day period. Jay, who was raised in Nottinghamshire within an Irish Catholic household, articulated: "I agreed to go on this Pilgrimage because it just sounded the perfect thing to do."
The participant of the show and This Morning star, Jeff Brazier, reflected on their journey with determination, saying: "You wouldn’t want a pilgrimage to be easy, would you? If we’re going to be pilgrims and kind of re-enact what thousands of people have done over the ages ahead of us, then we want to face a little bit of adversity, and you can always guarantee the weather will provide you with a little bit of that."
The collective challenge fostered a bond among the celebs, facilitating profound conversations. Jay further remarked: "Inevitably we got to know each other really well, as you can’t talk about religion and spirituality without talking about life itself and the experiences that you’ve had."
Jay also discussed his spiritual views, stating: "The rule book that comes with being a Catholic is too judgmental for where I am. I think the closest I can get to what I am, would be considered agnostic. I don’t believe there is a God, and I don’t believe there isn’t." He added: "But I would love to know a little bit more about what I am. So, I’m looking forward to that."
Pilgrimage: The Road Through the Alps airs over three nights from April 20-22 at 9 pm on BBC Two & iPlayer. The show features Jay McGuiness, presenter Jeff Brazier, 45, Helen Lederer, The Traitors victor Harry Clark, 24, comic Daliso Chaponda, 45, Paralympic sportsperson Stefanie Reid, 40, and reporter Nelufar Hedayat, 37.
