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Original Wiggle returns after 5 years

The original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page will rejoin the kid's troupe -but is the switch set to become a hot potato?

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The original Yellow Wiggle, Greg Page will rejoin the international kid’s troupe after a five-year absence, replacing entertainer Sam Moran who joined in 2006.

Moran replaced Page after he was struck down by illness, later diagnosed as orthostatic intolerance.

In a statement Moran said: “I am very proud of my five years as the Yellow Wiggle and the group’s continued success with me as their lead singer.

“I have enjoyed every minute of my nine years touring with the group, but I now look forward to new opportunities and more time spent with my wife and two- year-old daughter.”

But there are reports the plan to return Page after a 5 year absence was kept from Moran until recently.

“The tour finished and there was no farewell, no closure, no chance for Sam to say goodbye,” a Wiggles source tells the Daily Telegraph.

Moran was believed to be on a salary as a member of the troupe, which earned $28.2 million last year.

Last year Page also appeared on current affairs shows talking about financial losses due to real estate investments being hit by the GFC.

In December The Wiggles didn’t make an annual appearance at Carols in the Domain with management advising their Big Birthday tour had been a gruelling schedule. In November they were also inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame.

Blue Wiggle Anthony Field said, “We thank Sam for his wonderful contribution to the group for the past five years. He joined at a difficult time for Greg and the group, and we’re so grateful for all he has done.”

26 Responses

  3. I agree with the comments on their appearance on the Today Show. They’ve been in the business long enough to do a live interview. Richard Wilkins isn’t exactly a hard hitting interviewer but he still stumped the Wiggles. They came off really badly.

  4. I think people may be jumping the gun a bit on being outraged. Who knows exactly “how he’s been treated”?
    I’m waiting to hear back from friends who may know more details before I make my mind up.

  5. Conspiracy theory is that Blue Wiggle is a control freak. Sam being just on a salary would ring true – no royalties to negotiate. Maybe Greg coming back would be to boost flagging interest in the group. Just a conspiracy theory mind you

  7. Yes, I remember Jimmy Nicol, the guy who took part in the initial part of the Beatles’ 1964 (and only) tour of Australia when Ringo fell ill.

    Then replaced by Mr Starr mid-tour and never heard of again.

    I guess that makes me old.

    I wonder what happened to Jimmy ?

  8. Yep, agree with some of the others….they are all looking rather old and tired…Nothing wrong with that per say, but not a great look for the job they are in. Pass the torch guys, and keep collecting the royalties…

  9. This will be the start of the end for the Wiggles…. The way they have treated Sam is terrible. I bet a lot of parents will start looking else where for entertainment for their kids now.

    If anything, they should of added Greg back as the “5th” Green wiggle or something.

    To just “throw” Sam to the curb like they have will hurt them, IMO.

    My nephew will be devastated….

  10. @Tony Bee

    Agree 100% with you. They must all be in their mid 50s by now. It’s the skivvies and the songs that matter to the littlies. It’s not as though the Wiggles audience grows up with them. The brand needs to be refreshed every few years.

    Poor old Sam though, he’ll forever be the Wiggles’ very own Jimmy Nicol. (for those old enough to remember that name) 🙂

  11. All of the Wiggles have passed their used-by date and it’s time they passed their skivvies on to younger counterparts. They’re now just a bunch of grey-haired businessmen in coloured shirts that make them attractive to children and there’s something creepy about it. Kids will never tell the difference.

  15. Wow what a horribly awkward Wiggles interview on Today this morning…cringe worthy…they didn’t answer questions and when they did it made them look like they didn’t give a toss about Sam and the situation he has found himself in – they haven’t even talked to him! I usually love the Wiggles but they came across as pretty callous and Anthony especially blundered through it (although the others kept quiet and let him). Uncomfortable stuff.

  16. All very odd. I would have thought the four original members would be succession-planning, maintaining the brand with new people in the skivvies. They’re starting to look a bit old and crusty for children’s entertainers. This has worked for Hi-5.

  17. Might need to replace the blue wiggle soon after his performance on The Today Show. Wow, given the press coverage you would at least think you would prepare a decent answer.

    Out of his depth.

  18. @Mydoona – the other Wiggles are the founders of the company. Why would they give away 1/5 (1/6 actually) of the company to him in equity for a performance role of an existing group?

  20. If I was Sam I would have complained at the beginning for being the ‘salary wiggle’, no other Wiggle is on a salary..why should he be? I would sue them if I were him.

  21. I have a sense that they boned him, there must be more to the story. It’s ironic that Greg orginally stated that he never had a proper goodbye from the band, now Sam has been shafted too. Behind the glossy smiles for the kids, there is a multi-million dollar business. The Wiggles are far from Saints.

  24. something does not seem all above board here…. i dont think Sam wanted to go… and this may damage the Wiggles Brand…. it has to be …otherwise they would have had Sam handing back the Yellow skivvy…..

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