Chesney Lee Hawkes (born 22 September 1971) is an English singer and occasional actor. He started his career at the age of 19 when he appeared in the film Buddy's Song, which featured his best-known single "The One and Only", which topped the UK singles chart for five weeks and reached the top 10 in the United States. It also was featured in the 1991 film Doc Hollywood and the 2009 movie Moon. Follow-up single "I'm a Man Not a Boy" peaked at No. 27 in the UK, with subsequent singles including "What's Wrong with This Picture?", "Stay Away Baby Jane" (a collaboration with Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne) and "Another Fine Mess" also charting in the top 100.
Aside from music, Hawkes appeared on Channel 4's The Games in 2005, winning a Bronze Medal. Hawkes appeared on the shows Hit Me Baby One More Time, Let's Dance for Comic Relief, and Sing If You Can. Hawkes also appeared in the musical Can't Smile Without You in the role of Tony Lowiman.
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Early life
Hawkes was born in Windsor, Berkshire. He was named after the singer and comedian Chesney Allen. His father is singer and bassist Chip Hawkes of the 1960s band the Tremeloes. His mother is former actress/game-show hostess Carol Dilworth, who appeared in an episode of the 1960s version of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased) called "For the Girl Who Has Everything", as well as the 1969 horror film The Haunted House of Horror. Keely Hawkes, his sister, was the lead singer of 1990s band Transister, and is currently a songwriter based in Los Angeles. He attended Charters School in Sunningdale. Jodie Hawkes, his brother, played drums in Chesney's band and is currently in The Tremeloes.
Career
Hawkes' career began at 19, when he appeared as the title character in the film Buddy's Song. In March 1991, he released from the film’s soundtrack his biggest single "The One and Only", on which his younger brother Jodie was the drummer. The song, which was written by Nik Kershaw, spent five weeks at No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. Hawkes has released eight singles including "I'm a Man Not a Boy" and "Secrets of the Heart".
In 1993, his single "What's Wrong with This Picture?" reached number 63 in the UK, and his 2002 collaboration with Adam Schlesinger of Fountains of Wayne, "Stay Away Baby Jane", reached number 74 in the UK Singles Chart.
On 21 March 2001, Hawkes appeared on the second episode of ITV's documentary series Holiday Airport, which followed British holidaymakers as they passed through Palma Airport, Majorca. The episode resurfaced more than 20 years later on 13 March 2022, when it was uploaded to YouTube by ITV Studios' Our Stories channel.
Hawkes returned to the media's attention with his involvement in Channel 4's The Games in March 2005, in which he won a Bronze Medal. He also took part in the ITV programme Hit Me Baby One More Time in April that year. He released a single called "Another Fine Mess" in May 2005, it reached number 48. The following album of the same title featured fifteen songs written by Hawkes.
Hawkes was involved in a project called the Lexus Symphony Orchestra, a corporate promotion designed to showcase the quality of Lexus' in-car audio systems. Hawkes composed two original pieces of music performed by the London Symphony Orchestra for these events held at Castle Howard and Crystal Palace, in August 2007.
Hawkes appeared in a musical, Can't Smile Without You (featuring songs of Barry Manilow). A national tour started at the Liverpool Empire Theatre on 15 September 2008, prior to performances in the West End.
Hawkes appeared briefly in a cherry picker on Celebrity Big Brother (shown on 8 January 2009) on Channel 4. "The One and Only" was used as a cue to have contestants worship at a Chesney Hawkes shrine.
Personal life
Hawkes married his American girlfriend, Kristina, on 4 July 1997. They have three children together and had previously lived in Chertsey; they resided in Los Angeles for 12 years until moving back to Surrey in 2024. During 2025, the couple participated in the BBC's Celebrity Escape to the Country programme with an ambition to relocate from their UK rented property, using their personal purchase budget of £1.1 million targeting an established home in the Cotswolds. At the time of filming their three adult children remained in the U.S.
Hawkes is a supporter of West Ham United FC. Entrepreneur Duncan Bannatyne is a fan of Hawkes, and was surprised with a performance at his 60th birthday party in 2009.
Discography
Filmography
The Bill – "Photo Finish" (1991)
Buddy's Song (1991)
Prince Valiant (1997)
Panto! (2012)
Loose Women (2016)
Hollyoaks (2022)
Never Mind the Buzzcocks (2023)
Michael McIntyre's Big Show (2024)
Radio 2's Piano Room (2025)
Celebrity Big Brother (2025)
Celebrity Escape to the Country (2025)