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Partly cloudyMagazine
Rock on Tommy
by David Henry31/ 3/2005
READ an article about Jonathan Wilkes and the name Robbie Williams will inevitably crop up.
This reason for fame is something he remains sanguine
about.
He says: "It's like a birthmark. Robbie's my baggage. My best mate
just happens to be the biggest pop star in the world. But I think
I've proved myself on my own."
It's an honest and bullish assessment of his place in the watered
down world of modern celebrity but Jonathan believes he has every
right to feel confident about his talents and not inferior to his
more famous friend.
Jonathan is currently starring in the rock opera Tommy and says it
is the most challenging role he has ever played and a world away
from Grease, Godspell, and the Rocky Horror Show, all of which
Jonathan has appeared in.
"I've never done anything like this before," he says. "When I was
in Grease you could get away with murder with a wink and smile. It
could paper over the cracks. But this is such a powerful piece I
can't do that. I've got to concentrate all the time."
Tommy, created by rock band The Who, tells the story of a deaf,
blind, and dumb boy who never gets any attention until he becomes a
pinball wizard.
"It was the first rock opera and is an incredibly strong story.
It's a real honour to be involved because I'm massive fan of The
Who," says Jonathan.
Tommy is currently on a national tour, the first time it has been
performed in ten years. Jonathan is winning rave reviews and says
the stage is where he feels most at home.
"For me it feels great to be doing theatre. And Tommy is such an
exciting show, it gives me a real buzz," he says.
But he's also an experienced TV presenter, having fronted You've
Been Framed and Love On A Saturday Night for Granada. He speaks in
a strong Stoke accent, which makes him sound uncannily like his
Robbie. He even talks like him, coming out with deliberately cheesy
lines. For example he refers to the entertainment industry as "this
business we call show".
Robbie and Jonathan where school friends, and appeared together on
stage as youngsters. Football though was Jonathan's first love as a
lad.
He was a talented player and won a contract with Everton's youth
team. But he was told he wasn't good enough to be a pro and let go.
He was offered contracts at lower league teams Chester and Crewe
but turned his back on the game.
"I was devastated. All I'd ever thought about was becoming a
footballer. I remember sitting in a pub with my mates and not
knowing what I was going to do with my life. I felt my life was
over at 16."
Jonathan pulled himself together and decided to pursue a career in
performing. but he has not abandoned football all together and was
the star player on Sky One's reality TV show The Match. Coached by
former England manager Graham Taylor, Jonathan was the captain of a
team of celebrities who took on a team of ex-pros. The celebrities
lost but Jonathan scored a spectacular goal in the game and won
praise from many football experts.
A second series of The Match is planned for this summer but for the
moment Jonathan is focused on Tommy, and will be touring with the
show until July.
The inevitable question is: has Robbie seen it yet?
"No. But he's promised to come at some point. He's just a bit busy
right now with his new album. He's proud of what I'm doing though.
And I'm proud of him."
Tommy is at The Palace Theatre from April 4 to 9
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