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This year’s edition of the popular Soccer Aid charity football match, founded by Robbie Williams, will take place on Sunday.
Created by Take That star in 2006, Soccer Aid aims uniting nations to help raise money and awareness for children around the world to help them receive the best possible start in life.
Soccer Aid, the world’s largest charity football match, has raised more than £90 million for global children’s charity UNICEF since its inception.
But who exactly is the event’s co-founder, Jonathan Wilkes, and how long has he known Robbie Williams?
Read on below for everything you need to know about the Soccer Aid co-founder.
Who is Jonathan Wilkes?
Who is Soccer Aid co-founder Jonathan Wilkes? Inside the TV presenter and singer’s life, including “very close” friendship with Robbie Williams (pictured together in 2004)
Jonathan, 45, is a television presenter, actor and songwriter who presented Stars In Their Eyes and co-founded Soccer Aid with Robbie in 2006.
Jonathan, 45, is a television presenter, actor and songwriter who presented Stars In Their Eyes and co-founded Soccer Aid with Robbie in 2006.
Before finding fame as an actor and presenter, Jonathan could have been a professional footballer, having signed for Port Vale FC when he was seven years old and played for Everton FC as a teenager.
However, none of those clubs offered him a professional contract due to his apparent lack of desire to “eat, sleep and breathe football.”
As well as acting and presenting, Jonathan also had chart success, after his single Just Another Day reached number 24 in the UK in 2001.
Despite its success upon release, the song was considered a flop by Virgin Records, who hoped a top 10 hit would materialise.
How long has Jonathan Wilkes known Robbie Williams?
Explaining their friendship, Jonathan revealed that he and Robbie grew up in the same area and have been friends since they were children.
Explaining their friendship, Jonathan revealed that he and Robbie grew up in the same area and have been friends since they were children.
speaking to Staffordshire life In 2013, he said: “I’m very proud of him – he’s been my best friend all my life.” Our mothers are best friends and we grew up doing “am dram” together.
He added that the couple were also housemates when Jonathan first moved to London.
“I was 20 and in my third season at Blackpool when a guy called Kevin Bishop approached me.
‘He ran the Royal Variety programs for the BBC and was looking for a young presenter for the BBC Choice channel, now BBC3. He asked me to do it,” Jonny recalled.
‘I wanted to move on and said “yes” to moving to London. My partner, Rob, said, “Come live with me in my big mansion.”
“So I went to live with Robbie Williams in London and started my first job in television. There I met my wife, Nikki, at the BBC.
“I started writing records too, I managed to get a record deal with Virgin and they paid me very well.” he said.
The pair remain close friends to this day, and Jonathan comments that the duo are quick to pick up where they left off if they go a long period of time without seeing each other.
speaking to MirrorHe said, “It doesn’t matter if we haven’t talked for months and months, we just go back to the old routine.”
How many times has Jonathan Wilkes played in Soccer Aid?
Jonathan Wilkes, Sammy Duder and José Pizarro attend the 2024 BAFTA Television Awards with P&O Cruises at the Royal Festival Hall on May 12, 2024
As of the 2023 edition of Soccer Aid, Jonathan ranks fifth for most appearances at the event with six.
Last year’s match, held at Manchester United’s home stadium, Old Trafford, was the most successful on record, raising a record £14.6 million.
Other notable celebrities set to appear include singer and actor Bobby Brazier, Danny Dyer, Paddy McGuinness, Martin Compston, as well as comedians Maisie Adams, Lee Mack and Jason Manford.
Robbie, who has appeared in four Soccer Aid matches, will co-lead the England team in their quest for victory against opponent World XI.
Does Jonathan Wilkes have a wife and children?
Jonathan met his wife Nikki Wheeler in 1999 while working for the BBC.
While working for BBC Choice (now BBC Three), Jonathan presented a talk show with his future wife, who was part of the girl band Toutes les Filles.
After entering into a relationship, the couple married in 2004 and tied the knot in a ceremony in Los Angeles.
The couple has two sons: Mickey, who was born in 2006, and Ralph, whom the couple welcomed into the world in 2017.
You can catch all the action live at 6pm on ITV, ITVX and STV.