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Jonathan Wilkes
Born (1978-08-01) 1 August 1978 (age 45)
Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England
Occupation(s)Entertainer, singer, presenter
Spouse
Nikki Wheeler
​
(m. 2004)​
Children2

Jonathan Wilkes (born 1 August 1978)[1] is an English television presenter, singer and friend of Robbie Williams.

Early life and career

Jonathan Wilkes was born in Baddeley Green, Stoke-on-Trent, to Eileen Wilkes and Graham Wilkes, and spent most of his childhood in Packmoor, an outlying village of Chell. He has one older sister called Kay. He signed for Port Vale FC, aged seven, and played for Everton FC as a teenager. He was dropped from the team due to his unwillingness to 'eat, sleep and breathe football'.[2]

His first stage role was in a Stoke Amateur Operatic Society production of Hans Christian Andersen.[3]

In 1996, he won the Cameron Mackintosh Young Entertainer of the Year Award. From this, he went on to work in Blackpool under the name 'Jonathan and the Space Girls', until being spotted by Kevin Bishop of the BBC, who employed him as a presenter for the precursor channel to BBC3.[4] He has since gone on to work in West End Musicals, and has presented You've Been Framed!.

After signing a record deal with Virgin, Wilkes had a brief spell as a pop-music singer, his single "Just Another Day" went to No. 24 in the UK Singles Chart.[5] The single hit the Top 5 in 18 countries worldwide.[6] During his brief singing career, he performed with his friend Robbie Williams at the Royal Albert Hall and sang Somethin' Stupid together which received positive reviews. However, Wilkes later opted to stop making music in order to move back into TV and stage work, the latter being his biggest passion.[7]

Wilkes is a panto star, being a regular at the Regent Theatre Stoke since 2005.

Soccer Aid

Wilkes participates and assists in the organisation of Soccer Aid, an event he has been involved in since 2006.

Personal life

Wilkes attended City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College.[8] He is a boyhood fan of Port Vale. [9]

While working for the BBC, he lived in London.[10] Also while at the BBC, he met his wife Nikki. The couple live in Royal Wootton Bassett.[11]

In September 2013, Wilkes opened his own full-time performing arts college called Wilkes Academy.[12] The patrons of the academy include Ant and Dec, and Arlene Phillips.[13] The college is based in Swindon.

Discography

Single

Year Title Chart positions
UK
2001 "Just Another Day" 24[14]

References

  1. ^ "Home - James Grant". Jonathanwilkes.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2010. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  2. ^ "Jonny Wilkes: I can't help it if Robbie Williams is my best mate". Staff Life. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  3. ^ "Jonathan Wilkes". Wilkes Academy.
  4. ^ martintideswell (22 September 2012). "Why our Jonny changed goals to become a stage star". Martin Tideswell. Retrieved 17 June 2016.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 603. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ "Jonathan Wilkes". Wilkes Academy.
  7. ^ "Jonny Wilkes: I can't help it if Robbie Williams is my best mate". Staff Life. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  8. ^ "Jonny Wilkes: I can't help it if Robbie Williams is my best mate". Staff Life. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  9. ^ "Port Vale's most famous supporters". OneValeFan Academy. 11 October 2020.
  10. ^ "Jonny Wilkes: I can't help it if Robbie Williams is my best mate". Staff Life. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  11. ^ "Jonny Wilkes: I can't help it if Robbie Williams is my best mate". Staff Life. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  12. ^ "Jonathan Wilkes". Wilkes Academy.
  13. ^ "Jonny Wilkes: I can't help it if Robbie Williams is my best mate". Staff Life. 20 December 2013. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  14. ^ "Jonathan Wilkes". Official Charts.

External links

Preceded byLisa Riley Host of You've Been Framed! 2003–2004 Succeeded byHarry Hill
Authority control databases: Artists
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