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

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.

After signing a record deal with Virgin, Wilkes had a brief spell as a pop-music singer, his single "Just Another Day" reached No.

[4] During his brief singing career, he performed with his friend Robbie Williams at the Royal Albert Hall and sang Me And My Shadow together which received positive reviews.

[2] Wilkes participates and assists in the organisation of Soccer Aid, an event he has been involved in since 2006, in collaboration with co-founder and friend Robbie Williams.