Fans keen for a Wiggly baby
Our favourite Yellow Wiggle, Emma Watkins, opens up about when she and Lachy will start a family and the promise she made to former Purple Wiggle Jeff
WHEN word got around that Emma Watkins, aka our favourite Yellow Wiggle, and husband Lachy Gillespie, aka our favourite Purple Wiggle, might be having a Wiggle baby in May this year, fans were sent into a massive wiggly frenzy.
Of course, that “might” turned into “not at all” and instead her baby was revealed as a PhD from Macquarie University, which focuses on cinematic ways to represent music for deaf children.
Despite the little let down (but hey, good on her!) Wiggles fans remain excited for what the future holds for our favourite wiggly pair – in fact, she gets asked about it several times a day.
“I get asked if I’m having a Wiggles baby at least twice a day,” Emma tells Kidspot.
“I don’t think people realise that I get asked every day. If I have done a show and go out to collect roses from the audience, it might be more often. Even at restaurants, going for dinner or breakfast, I get asked there too.”
While Emma admits she’s often bombarded with the personal question more so than her Purple Wiggle husband, she is flattered that so many fans (and let’s face it, the mums of fans) are so eager for news of a baby Wiggle.
“It’s really nice that everyone is excited. The enthusiasm is lovely and Lachy and I would love to have children, but I still feel like I need to work out my
touring schedule,” she laughs.
“I also think people forget that I’m still quite young, I’m 27, I’ve got heaps of time. I might just wait for a little bit.”
With baby plans on hold, Emma, along with her Wiggle bandmates are excited about a new baby – the release of their Duets DVD and CD.
“It has been so lovely to hear the tracks with lots of different voices on them because you get so used to hearing yourself sing it. But when you hear someone else’s interpretation of it, it’s quite beautiful,” Emma says.
‘‘ I ALSO THINK PEOPLE FORGET THAT I’M STILL QUITE YOUNG, I’M 27, I’VE GOT HEAPS OF TIME. I MIGHT JUST WAIT FOR A LITTLE BIT.
The DVD features a heap of big names including Jimmy Barnes, Kylie Minogue, Guy Sebastian as well as many others, and is already proving to be a hit with the kids.
“We had Paulini come and sing Do The Pretzel which everybody really likes. I don’t think I’ve heard anything cooler to be quite honest.
“She’s just a beautiful singer and we had a great time recording with her.”
During her time with The Wiggles, Emma has become an accidental spokesperson for the deaf community thanks to her passion for signing her way through the group’s biggest hits.
“I grew up with two deaf friends and I think ever since then, I’ve always been really intrigued. I’m so enthusiastic about it because I love looking at it. For me, it’s like choreography with your hands,” she says.
“We’re trying to bring more of that to our shows, which I think is wonderful.
“It’s such a beautiful way to express yourself and at The Wiggles shows we have so many children with different additional needs and abilities, so we encourage the children to interact in any way they feel comfortable. I feel like sign language is just another way for them to communicate in that way.”
While their hectic touring schedule and her PhD is keeping Emma busy, she says she is planning on staying with the popular children’s group for at least another 30 years thanks to a promise she made to former purple Wiggle Jeff Fatt.
“I made a pact with Jeff, who wiggled until he was 60. I decided I would wiggle until then too,” says Emma.
“I actually don’t see myself not wiggling. I just love it. I have quite a lot of things to fit in between now and then. I have quite the responsibility and it’s really nice.”
For more, visit www.kidspot.com.au.