Sykes frequently performed as a child singer, winning various competitions including "Britney Spears's Karaoke Kriminals" in 2003, in which he got to kiss Britney Spears on live TV as part of his prize, and the Cheltenham Competitive Festival of Dramatic Art, also in 2003. He appeared on ITV's "Ministry of Mayhem" in 2004, and won the Door Youth Project's Undiscovered Youth Talent Contest held in Derker, performing "Mack the Knife". He also performed for the Live and Unsigned Music Competition in Bristol in 2008. Sykes attempted to represent the UK in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2004 held in Lillehammer, Norway. In the British qualifying finals, he sang "Born to Dance" coming 3rd overall, after winner Cory Spedding and runner-up Andrew Merry.