How to follow The Wiggles is the $64 million question when it comes to the Australian children's entertainment industry. Login or signup to continue reading But it was never an issue Emma Watkins pondered for long when she announced in 2021 that she was hanging up her yellow skivvy. As the first female Wiggle, Watkins undoubtedly became the Fruit Salad juggernaut's most popular character and marketable personality.
Wiggles audiences across Australia were regularly full of young girls in Emma Wiggles' trademark bow and black skirt. That popularity has transferred to Watkins' Emma Memma character, who incorporates sign language into music and dance. The character was born out of Watkins' PhD at Sydney's Macquarie University about how to artistically integrate sign language, dance and film editing.
"It's nice so many people have adopted it," Watkins said. "Over the last two years it's really soared and it's become so busy. "We just receive so much direct feedback from parents and educators that it's a resource they really need, because in Australia we don't have that many resources that have special communication in a specific sense.
" Emma Memma's debut record won Best Children's Album at the 2023 ARIA Awards and she's done dance collaborations with Bluey character, Bingo, and created her own live stage show with husband and producer, Oliver Brian. It's also provided a launchpad for colourful characters like Elvin Melvin, BB Butterfly and Waffles the Wombat. "My co-performer Elv.