She’s endured an unbearably difficult few years since her husband, The Wanted’s Tom Parker, passed away from a brain tumour aged 33 in March 2022. Kelsey Parker was naturally heartbroken over her loss of Tom, who she began dating in 2011 before tying the knot in 2018— going on to have two children together, daughter Aurelia, five, and son Bodhi, four.
However, life turned a corner last year when Kelsey, 34, found love again with 27-year-old tree surgeon Will Lindsay. In January, the couple revealed the happy news that they’re expecting their first baby together— an announcement that upsettingly landed Kelsey with a torrent of unjustified trolling. In a recent appearance on Lorraine, she admitted, ‘I’m so happy, but some people aren’t happy, and it does upset me. But walk a day in my shoes, live my lived experience, and then you might have a different opinion.’
However, Kelsey and Will are thrilled at the news and are insistent on keeping an element of surprise around their child. Kelsey told Closer, ‘I haven’t found out the sex. I did the NIPT test, and I have the gender results in an email, but I haven’t looked. People can’t believe it.’
She continued, ‘I want a surprise. I’ve got one of each, and this is my partner’s first child. My problem is Aurelia wants a little girl, and Bodhi wants a little boy, so either way somebody is going to be upset!’
While this pregnancy is a blessing, Kelsey admits that it does have its downsides. The mum-of-two admitted, ‘I hate being pregnant. I feel the FOMO of not being able to drink or party with everyone.’
She added, ‘During that first stage I was so sick. My pregnancies have been so different. I’ve been sick with all of them, and my cravings have been very different. With Aurelia I just wanted ice-cream, cake, sweets, and with Bodhi I wanted salt and vinegar on everything – I would have chips covered in salt and vinegar. With this baby, I’m more sweet.’
However, one upside of expecting a baby is her newfound pregnancy style. She said, ‘Amy Hart told me that as soon as she fell pregnant, she literally bought the tightest wardrobe she could find. I’m enjoying that because I’m the mum who has the mum tum. It doesn’t matter how many gym sessions you do, or what you eat, you cannot shift it – well I certainly can’t.’
Her boyfriend, Will, has been her rock throughout this surprise pregnancy, but Kelsey also leans heavily on her mother. ‘My mum is brutal— she’s like, “Just get on with it.” No-one should have her around when they’re having a baby,’ she joked. ‘I had pre-eclampsia, and my mum was like, “Come on — just get the baby on your boob Kelsey, and you’ll be alright.” I wouldn’t be able to get through each day if it wasn’t for the village. If you’ve not got anyone, reach out to people, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. We all need help, so don’t shy away.’
When Kelsey isn’t busy taking care of her two children, she also co-hosts her podcast, Mums The Word!, alongside pal Georgia Jones— the wife of McFly’s Danny Jones. In 2021, Kelsey helped establish the Tom Parker Foundation, where she continues to raise awareness and funds for brain cancer research. She told Closer that she’s a self-confessed ‘workaholic’, so will struggle with taking maternity leave.
She admitted, ‘I thrive off being busy. I don’t know what I’m going to do about the podcast. I’ll probably push the baby out and be back the next week or do it on Zoom.’
Meanwhile, not only is Kelsey refusing to ease up with work, but she’s also upped her training routine. ‘I think I’m the only person who falls pregnant and goes back to the gym! They don’t recognise me, they’re like, “You haven’t been here for a year, who are you?” I’ve got to get my legs strong for the birth. I feel like this time round everything is so tight— my legs are tight, and my back is tight. I need a massage.’
Luckily, Kelsey hasn’t been too affected by pregnancy hormones, revealing, ‘I’m so not emotional. I am not a crier, and it takes a lot to make me cry.’ In the past, she even found giving birth surprisingly straightforward. ‘I think the midwife was shocked because I didn’t have any pain relief, but then afterwards the uterus contracting back was the worst pain I have ever been through. I feel it was actually worse than labour.’
‘There is always a story with me. I feel like I never go through life and it’s just plain sailing. I want something nice. I’m just asking the universe, please, come on – give me something nice!’
Kelsey spoke to Closer at The Baby Show in London