The original lineup of The Wiggles have pulled back the curtain on their lives and decades-long career in the documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles.
It’s a gripping story about the history of Greg Page, Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt as they founded the world’s most popular children’s entertainment group.
From life-threatening health issues to bitter divorces and inter-group fights, here are the biggest bombshells dropped during the highly anticipated film.
Blue Wiggle Anthony, 60, opened up about his harrowing battle with depression throughout his incredibly successful career.
He said he broke down in tears backstage during The Wiggles’ very first tour in England and no one could understand what was happening to him.
The original lineup of The Wiggles have pulled back the curtain on their lives and decades-long career in the documentary Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles
‘When I was talking to one of my brothers, I told him that I felt sad all the time and he said, “Why do you have to be sad? You are successful, you have all the comforts, what is wrong with you?” said Anthony.
Murray, 63, who wore the purple skivvy until 2012, admitted the group didn’t understand what depression looked like – and no one did in the 1990s.
Anthony has since been very open about his mental health issues and has been seeing a psychologist for the past 35 years.
If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline 13 11 14.
It’s a gripping story about the history of Greg Page, Anthony Field, Murray Cook and Jeff Fatt (all pictured) as they founded the world’s most popular children’s entertainment group.
During the documentary, Blue Wiggle Anthony, 60, opened up about his harrowing battle with depression throughout his incredibly successful career
His struggles may have been exacerbated by leaving his six-week-old daughter Lucia, now a Blue Wiggle herself, behind when the group went on their first tour.
Murray also struggled to leave his children and told of the heartbreaking moment his son Hamish said: ‘I don’t like music because it takes Dad away.’
Meanwhile, Yellow Wiggle Greg, 51, discovered that even leaving The Wiggles in 2006 due to ill health couldn’t save his marriage to Michelle Charlton.
The couple split two years later and share daughter Madison and Greg’s stepson Blaine.
He also shares daughter Lara and son Cameron with his current wife Vanessa Reid.
His struggles may have been exacerbated by leaving his six-week-old daughter Lucia, now a Blue Wiggle herself, behind when the group went on their first tour.
Murray, 63, also admitted he struggled to leave his children, telling of the heartbreaking moment his son Hamish said: ‘I don’t like music because it takes away daddy’
Greg later returned to The Wiggles in January 2020 for a special reunion that ended in tears when he suffered a heart attack on stage.
Murray became teary as he recalled the harrowing moment Greg collapsed, saying: ‘At first I thought he had just overdone it, but then his eyes started rolling back.
‘Then first aid people said he wasn’t breathing. I thought he was dead. It was horrible to watch… It was quite disturbing.”
However, the Yellow Wiggle wasn’t the only member of the quadruplets with heart problems; three of the members required heart surgery over the years.
Greg was diagnosed with orthostatic intolerance and would sometimes pass out during shows while Murray underwent open heart surgery in December 2021.
Meanwhile, Greg, 51, returned to The Wiggles in January 2020 for a special reunion that ended in tears when he suffered a heart attack on stage.
Murray became teary as he recalled the harrowing moment Greg collapsed, saying: “At first I thought he had just overdone it, but then his eyes started rolling back.”
Purple Wiggle Jeff, 70, also had a pacemaker fitted after a terrifying accident in which he passed out behind the wheel of a car and crashed into a tree.
“Luckily that happened without any great speed,” Jeff assured.
Despite being all smiles and high energy every time they took the stage together, Anthony, Murray, Greg and Jeff ultimately revealed that they didn’t always get along behind the scenes.
Purple Wiggle Jeff, 70, also had a pacemaker fitted after a terrifying accident in which he passed out behind the wheel of a car and crashed into a tree.
Anthony recalled that he once threw an entire drum kit at Greg after the Yellow Wiggle told him to play too loudly backstage.
The pair often seemed to come to disagreements, as Greg still blames Anthony for a huge wet spot he once found on his skivvy just before he was supposed to go on stage.
“If you see Greg, tell him I didn’t do the water,” Anthony told the documentary’s producers, recounting the moment Greg called him out on it just seconds before they went on stage together.
Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggles premieres October 24 on PrimeVideo.
Despite being all smiles and high energy every time they took the stage together, Anthony, Murray, Greg and Jeff revealed that they didn’t always get along behind the scenes.