Members of the Wiggles: Original, Current Lineup & Changes

Thirty-four years in, The Wiggles still gets kids on their feet—but the yellow shirt has changed hands more times than most parents realize.

Original members: 5 (Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page, Phillip Wilcher) ·
Current members (2022): 8 (Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete, Lucia Field) ·
Group founded: 1991

Who were the four original Wiggles?

The Wiggles launched in 1991 with five founding members: Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page, and Phillip Wilcher. By the end of the first album cycle in 1992, Wilcher had departed, leaving the quartet most people still think of as the originals (Wikipedia).

• Anthony Field (Blue Wiggle): Studied teaching and early childhood at university; conceived the idea for a children’s album after leaving another band. He has performed as Blue Wiggle continuously since 1991 (Good To).
• Murray Cook (Red Wiggle): Anthony’s university acquaintance who co-wrote many early Wiggles songs. He retired from touring in 2012 but retained his shareholding in the group (Wikipedia).
• Jeff Fatt (Purple Wiggle): A member of The Cockroaches, the band Anthony Field had been involved with before The Wiggles. He also retired from touring in 2012 while maintaining creative input (Good To).
• Greg Page (Yellow Wiggle): The original Yellow Wiggle who was forced out in 2006 due to Orthostatic Intolerance, a medical condition affecting blood pressure regulation. He briefly returned in 2012 before retiring permanently (Wigglepedia).

Who are the 8 Wiggles?

After Emma Watkins departed in 2021, The Wiggles expanded from a quartet to an eight-member ensemble. The current lineup spans three generations of members: original founding member Anthony Field, second-generation replacements Lachlan Gillespie and Simon Pryce, and five newer performers who joined from 2012 onward (Wikipedia).

• Anthony Field — Blue Wiggle since 1991
• Lachlan Gillespie (Lachy) — Purple Wiggle since 2013, replacing Jeff Fatt
• Simon Pryce — Red Wiggle since 2013, replacing Murray Cook
• Tsehay Hawkins — Yellow Wiggle since 2021, replacing Emma Watkins
• Evie Ferris — Yellow Wiggle in the Fruit Salad TV Wiggles sub-group
• John Pearce — Long-time dancer added as performing member
• Caterina Mete — Former choreographer elevated to performing member at start of a tour
• Lucia Field — Debuted July 2022, wearing blue like her father

The addition of Lucia Field, Anthony’s daughter, marked a notable moment: for the first time, the blue shirt passed within a family. Lucia debuted in July 2022, continuing the colour tradition her father established three decades earlier (Wikipedia).

How many Wiggles are left?

As of 2025, Anthony Field stands as the only original member still performing with The Wiggles. All four members of the original founding quartet besides Field—Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, and Greg Page—retired from touring by the end of 2012, with Greg Page having been forced out earlier due to health reasons in 2006 (Wigglepedia).

Current lineup size

The group currently fields eight members, the largest lineup in its history. The expansion occurred after Emma Watkins’ 2021 departure and included first-time performers Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, and Caterina Mete alongside Lucia Field’s family debut (Wikipedia).

Changes over time

The membership count has fluctuated from the original five (1991) to four core performers after Wilcher’s 1992 exit, briefly back to five during Greg Page’s return in 2012, down to four again, and finally to eight from 2022 onward. Each transition corresponded with either health-related departures, planned retirements, or deliberate expansion strategies (Wigglepedia).

Why is Emma no longer a Wiggle?

Emma Watkins, the first female member in The Wiggles’ history, departed the group in 2021 after eight years as Yellow Wiggle. She joined in 2013, replacing Greg Page during his second retirement, and quickly became the group’s most visually distinctive figure with her yellow shirt and distinctive bow (Wikipedia).

Emma Watkins’ tenure

During her eight-year tenure, Emma Watkins became a central figure in The Wiggles’ public identity, touring extensively and appearing in numerous television productions. She was the first female member of the group, a milestone that expanded the brand’s appeal to broader family audiences (Wikipedia).

Departure reasons

Public statements cited personal reasons for her departure in 2021. Less publicly, her marriage to Lachlan Gillespie—another member who joined in the same 2013 overhaul—ended in divorce in 2018, two years before she announced her exit. Detailed reasons beyond these public statements have not been officially disclosed (Good To).

Are Anthony and Captain Feathersword brothers?

Anthony Field and Captain Feathersword are not brothers. Captain Feathersword is played by Paul Paddick, who joined The Wiggles in 1994 as a supporting character performer and has portrayed the pirate nemesis-turned-ally ever since. Paddick worked as a comedy actor before joining the group (Wigglepedia).

Anthony Field’s role

Anthony Field is the only original member still performing with The Wiggles, having maintained his role as Blue Wiggle since the group’s formation in 1991. He is the son of a former TV presenter and studied early childhood education, which informed the group’s educational approach to children’s music (Good To).

Captain Feathersword performer

Paul Paddick has portrayed Captain Feathersword for over three decades, becoming as recognizable as the Wiggles themselves. His character began as an antagonist in early videos but evolved into a friendly ally who helps the Wiggles on their adventures. Paddick is not related to Anthony Field by blood or marriage (Wigglepedia).

Wiggles Lineup Comparison

Four distinct eras, three different member counts: here’s how the key performers stack up across The Wiggles’ history.

The pattern across these eras shows how The Wiggles has managed transitions—from health-related departures to deliberate expansions—while maintaining audience engagement through different lineup configurations.

Timeline of Wiggles Membership Changes

Six major transitions, three decades, and one family succession: the key dates shaping The Wiggles’ roster.

• 1991: Group founded by Anthony Field, Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, Greg Page, and Phillip Wilcher
• 1992: Phillip Wilcher departed after first album (Wikipedia)
• 2006: Greg Page forced out due to Orthostatic Intolerance; Sam Moran became Yellow Wiggle (Wigglepedia)
• 2012: Greg Page briefly returned; Murray Cook, Jeff Fatt, and Greg Page retired from touring (Wikipedia)
• 2013: Emma Watkins joined as Yellow Wiggle; Lachlan Gillespie replaced Jeff Fatt; Simon Pryce replaced Murray Cook (Wikipedia)
• 2021: Emma Watkins departed The Wiggles; Tsehay Hawkins became new Yellow Wiggle (Wikipedia)
• July 2022: Lucia Field debuted as Blue Wiggle, continuing her father’s colour (Wikipedia)

Current Confirmed Facts vs. Rumors

Here’s what we know definitively versus what remains uncertain about The Wiggles’ membership.

What People Ask About The Wiggles

The Wiggles have earned multiple APRA and ARIA Music Awards, including Most Performed Children’s Work in 1995, 1996, and 1999 from the Australasian Performing Rights Association (Famous Birthdays).

Meet The Wiggles: Caterina, John, Evie, Tsehay, Lucia, Lachy, Simon, and Anthony.

— The Wiggles (official site)

As of 2022, the group members are Anthony Field, Lachlan Gillespie, Simon Pryce, Tsehay Hawkins, Evie Ferris, John Pearce, Caterina Mete, and Lucia Field.

— Wikipedia

The Wiggles are based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, where Anthony Field studied early childhood education and where the group’s distinctive approach to children’s entertainment first took shape (Wigglepedia).

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The Wiggles’ evolving lineup has powered hits including their festive Twelve Days of Christmas lyrics, a joyful staple in family holiday traditions worldwide.

Frequently asked questions