The Wanted star Max George has said that he still “accidentally” texts late bandmate Tom Parker as he “processes” his loss to cancer.
The 33-year-old singer died earlier this year surrounded by his family and bandmates, 17 months after being diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour.
George paid tribute to Tom on Tuesday’s This Morning as he discussed the tell-all memoir the singer penned in his last 12 months and set to be released in July, giving an insight into his life.
Tom revealed he was in the process of writing a tell-all memoir amid his battle with brain cancer one week before his death.
He said that the book, called Hope, would not be about 'dying' but about 'living' and 'finding hope' no matter what situation you are in.
When discussing the book and his story, George admitted it has felt surreal promoting the memoir without Tom by his side on the ITV sofa.
He told hosts Dermot O’Leary and Alison Hammond: “I still think I'm trying to process it.”
He continued: “I still text him actually. If I get stuff like pictures that fans have made with him in it or they send a nice message to do with Tom, I’ll Whatsapp it to him still.
“I think I'm just finding comfort in that. The worst thing is when I do it accidentally. Sometimes you just go to text and you’re like, ‘oh no’.”
Alison then admitted she did the same thing when her late mum died, saying: “I used to do that with my mum. I was still texting her or phoning her to tell her something and realise she’s not here anymore. It’s so weird.”
Dermote replied: “Whatever gets you through. It’s all baby steps isn’t it? You take each day as it comes.
“I think it’s quite a common thing that the waves crash over you and they still crash over you, but as time goes they crash over you less and less.”
In the wake of Tom’s death, Max hailed his late bandmate as a "lion" and praised his "courage and dignity" in the wake of his cancer diagnosis.
Paying tribute for the first time since Tom’s death, he shared a series of photos on Instagram showing them hugging and embracing.
He wrote: "Tom, my brother, my boy, my band mate, my best bud.. You lit up so many lives all over the world but I can only speak on behalf of mine.
"From the minute I met you, I knew this was gonna be a special chapter in my life. I was right.
"We did everything together, some amazing things, some outrageous things. I'm so proud of what we achieved as band mates and as brothers."
"Thank you for choosing me as your friend. It was an honour from day one. I'm so grateful I was with you until the very end.”
This Morning airs weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITV Hub.
